Fisheries

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will list the occasions since 21 March when monitoring of (a) fish stocks and (b) other marine wildlife has been instigated following the loss of a harmful cargo into the sea, giving in each case (i) the nature of the cargo, (ii) the period of monitoring and (iii) the results of that monitoring;
	(2)  what monitoring of (a) fish stocks and (b) other marine wildlife occurs in parts of UK waters where harmful cargoes are known to have been lost overboard.

Ben Bradshaw: There have been no such occasions since 21 March.
	For English waters the Department assesses whether any environmental impact assessment is required following a pollution incident or loss of a hazardous cargo that may cause pollution, and makes arrangements for its preparation. The devolved Administrations make their own arrangements.
	The last such assessment in the UK was requested by the Secretary of State for Wales on 27 March 1996 following the Sea Empress Incident. The Sea Empress Environmental Evaluation Committee published its report in 1998—"The Environmental Impact of the Sea Empress Oil Spill", the Stationery Office, ISBN 0–11–702156–3.
	The Department does carry out regular monitoring of fish stocks and marine wildlife throughout our waters, in addition to any special studies required following pollution incidents. A wide variety of monitoring stations are in use to obtain a thorough overview. This may include monitoring stations in parts of UK waters where harmful cargoes are known to have been lost overboard, but they were not placed there specifically because of cargo loss. The most recent report of these regular monitoring activities is set out in "Charting progress: an integrated assessment of the state of UK seas" was published on 1 March 2005. A copy was placed in the Library of the House, and it can be downloaded from DEFRA's website:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/water/marine/uk/stateofsea/index.htm

Fisheries

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many incidents in the last year for which figures are available of (a) marine pollution and (b) coastal pollution have resulted in (i) court actions and (ii) fines; and what the (A) nature and (B) level of (i) conviction and (ii) financial penalty was in each case.

Ben Bradshaw: Information is not held in this form.
	The Department's Sea Fisheries Inspectorate carried out a prosecution on behalf of DEFRA in 2004 following deposits of dredged material into the sea without the required licence under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 for the deposit of substances and articles in the sea. One of the joint defendants was fined £40,000 and the other £20,000.
	The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) of the Department for Transport have carried out one prosecution this year following dumping of garbage including sleeping bags, polystyrene and plastic bags into the sea under the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution by Garbage) Regulations 1998. The defendant was fined £2,000.
	The Maritime and Coastguard Agency have carried out two prosecutions this year following breaches of the UK maritime pollution legislation. One defendant was fined £20,000 and £11,344 costs and the other defendant was fined £5,000 and £4,379.70 costs.
	The MCA sponsor the Advisory Committee for the Protection of the Sea to produce an annual survey of reported discharges attributed to vessels and offshore oil and gas installations. The report for 2004 records 10 successful prosecutions for oil pollution offences. Total fines imposed by the competent authorities which included ports and harbours amounted to £122,200, providing a mean value of £12,200.
	The Environment Agency (who have regulatory powers in coastal waters up to three miles offshore) have recorded 11 minor "marine" incidents in 2004 for which no formal enforcement action was taken.
	The Department of Trade and Industry carried out a prosecution this year following an unpermitted discharge of an offshore chemical under the Offshore Chemicals Regulations 2002. The offshore platform operator was fined £3,000 in a Scottish Court.

Ministerial Travel

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list, for each year since 1995, the number of flights, including helicopter flights, taken by Ministers within his Department for UK and overseas visits; on how many occasions (a) charter flights were used and (b) first and club class tickets were obtained; and if he will indicate who accompanied the Ministers on each trip.

Karen Buck: The detailed information requested can not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.
	However, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The list indicates when non-scheduled flights were used, and shows how many Officials accompanied Ministers in those circumstances. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. These report information for the financial years 1995–96 to 2004–05. Information for 2005–06 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the current financial year.
	All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the "Ministerial Code" and "Travel by Ministers", copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Palm Oil

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had with (a) UK supermarkets, (b) ministerial colleagues and (c) others about the sourcing of palm oil imported into the UK, with particular reference to the habitat of the orang-utan;
	(2)  what recent research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the relationship between increased imports of palm oil into the UK and the threat to the future of the orang-utan.

Gareth Thomas: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK Government support the conservation and sustainable management of rainforests, helping to protect forest habitats, including those of the orang-utan. The UK Government are in discussion with EU member states about the threats to these tropical rainforests caused by oil palm expansion. The UK Government are taking a number of steps to tackle these issues and these are outlined as follows.
	The former Advisory Committee on Consumer Products and the Environment (appointed in 1999 by the, Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR)) considered palm oil in the context of the scope for retailers and others to influence the supply chain. As part of its work, in 2001, the Committee brought together a number of UK players including several leading retailers, to discuss and identify the scope for practical action to tackle the environmental issues associated with this commodity.
	Building on that experience the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) commissioned, on the Committee's behalf, a feasibility study to assess how a broader sustainable commodities initiative might work as a tool to reduce the negative impact of commodity crops. The study concluded that there was no single best way forward for an initiative to suit all commodities or supply chain actors. Instead an initiative should consist of a coherent set of different activities. The study is available on line at—http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/consumerprod/accpe/research/index.htm.
	Based on the study, the advisory committee made a number of recommendations in its third report, "From Principles to Action", around the need for a policy framework, information, best practice guidance and sharing of experience. These recommendations are being fed into the development of the Government's Food Industry Sustainability Strategy.
	Defra is commissioning some further research work into the impacts of commodities on the biodiversity in international communities. The outcomes of this work will identify the range of commodities and inform future policy development. palm oil will be one of the commodities studied in this project.
	A Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil has been established, which is running a pilot programme in sustainable palm oil production in Malaysia. This is a two year scheme running from November 2005 which is subject to review at the end of this period. The programme is monitoring whether palm oil can be grown in both a legal and sustainable manner.

Armed Forces

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many serving (a) regular, (b) territorial and (c) reserve armed forces personnel were recorded as living in Kettering constituency in each year since 1997.

Don Touhig: Historically statistics at parliamentary constituency level have not been produced.
	Posted location data by local authority, for regular personnel are published in TSP 10, "UK Regular Forces Distribution Across UK", quarterly from 1 July 2004 to 1 July 2005. Copies are available in the Library of the House. There were no regular personnel posted to the borough of Kettering during this time and records show that no regular personnel have been posted to Kettering between 1997 and 2004.
	Data on the residential location of armed forces personnel are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Court Cases

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many criminal cases involving military personnel on active service have been transferred from military in which all proceedings are complete to civil jurisdiction for trial in each of the last five years; and what the reason was in each case.

Mike O'Brien: I have been asked to reply 
	as the responsible Minister for supervising both the Service Prosecuting Authorities and the Crown Prosecution Service.
	Where an offence alleged to have been committed by servicemen is triable in England and Wales in either the court martial or the civilian courts, it is ultimately the Attorney General's decision which prosecutor will consider the allegation. The Service Prosecuting Authorities will deal with the vast majority of cases concerning servicemen. However, in exceptional cases the CPS may deal with the allegation.
	Trooper Williams is the only case in the last five years when a criminal case involving military personnel on active service have been transferred from military in which all proceedings are complete to civil jurisdiction for trial.
	The charge against Trooper Williams was murder. He had been charged and had the charge dismissed by his commanding officer without the independent prosecutor, the Army Prosecuting Authority considering the allegation. As a result of the charge being dismissed the provisions of the Army Act 1955 Section 134 (1) precluded him being tried by a court martial for either murder or manslaughter. As a result the Army Prosecuting Authority could not consider the allegation.
	However in accordance with the Army Act 1955 Section 33(1) as Trooper Williams had not been tried for an offence by a court martial, not had an offence committed by him taken into consideration by a court martial in sentencing him nor had the charge dealt with summarily by his commanding officer, a civil court could try him. The case was therefore transferred to the civilian jurisdiction so that the Crown Prosecution Service as an independent prosecutor could consider the allegation.

Departmental Salaries

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the 10 highest paid employees in his Department, broken down by (a) job title and (b) salary including bonuses; and whether the individual concerned is (i) a civil servant and (ii) a contractor in each case.

Don Touhig: Details of the 10 highest paid civilian employees within the Ministry of Defence are as follows:
	
		
			 Position Pay band Bonus 
		
		
			 Permanent Secretary 2nd PUS Chief Defence Procurement Chief Scientific Adviser  Within the Permanent Secretaries' pay range of £130,350 to £264,250  Potential to earn up to 15 per cent. of salary dependent on performance 
			   
			 Head Defence Export Services(13) Personnel Director1/2 Deputy Chief Executive of the Defence  Procurement Agency1/2 Deputy Chief of Defence Logistics  Within SCS Pay Band 3 range of £93,139 to £198,197  Potential to earn bonuses up to £12,500 in 2005 pay round, subject to relative assessment and quota 
			
			 Chief Executive Army Base Repair  Organisation Chief Executive Defence Aviation  Repair Agency Both fixed term appointments—salaries are within Pay Band 2 range of £75,606 to £159,659  Potential to earn up to 10 per cent. of salary depending on performance 
		
	
	(13) Additional funding provided by defence industry to make salary commensurate with equivalent level post in the private sector. Has potential to earn up to 10 per cent. of salary depending on performance.
	Information on the salaries and other benefits of the Defence Management Board, which includes senior military appointments, is contained in the Ministry of Defence's Annual Report and Accounts 2004–05 (HC 464).

RAF Projects

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress on the (a) F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, (b) Hawk 128, (c) Airbus A330 and (d) Typhoon Project; and what the estimated costs were (i) at the beginning of the project and (ii) at the most recent available date.

Adam Ingram: We are negotiating the Joint Strike Fighter memorandum of understanding for the co-operative production, support and follow on development phase and expect to conclude these negotiations next year.
	The Hawk 128 design and development contract was placed in December 2004. Negotiations with BAE Systems regarding a production contract are ongoing.
	Final negotiations on the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) project are ongoing with AirTanker Ltd. on a 27-year contract for a public finance initiative service based upon Airbus A330 aircraft.
	19 Typhoon production aircraft have been delivered to the RAF and over 1,900 in-service sorties have been flown. The aircraft are now engaged in pilot training and operational evaluation to enable operational deployment during the second half of this decade.
	The estimated costs for these projects at (i) the beginning of the project and (ii) the most recent available data (MPR04):
	
		
			   £ million 
			  (i) Beginning of project (ii) Most recent available data 
		
		
			 Joint Strike Fighter  (demonstration phase only) 2,236 2,573 
			 Hawk 128 Up to 722 Up to 722 
			 FSTA Up to 13,900 Up to 13,100 
			 Typhoon 16,671 19,014

Temporary Fire-fighting Duties

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost has been of using British troops for temporary fire-fighting duties in each of the last 10 years.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has provided military assistance in the form of temporary fire-fighting duties on 16 occasions during the last 10 years. In certain cases no strikes took place and MOD incurred costs for contingency planning and preparation only; these are marked with an asterisk. Additional costs are normally recovered from the requesting Department.
	
		
			   £ 
			   Fire authority   Dates Approximate costs including VAT invoiced centrally by MOD 
		
		
			 Merseyside 1995–96 1,200,000 
			 Essex 1996 *12,000 
			 Derbyshire 1996 145,000 
			 Essex 1997 65,000 
			 Greater Manchester 1997 *3,000 
			 London 1998 *10,000 
			 Surrey 1998 *1,000 
			 Essex 1998 1,772,000 
			 West Yorkshire and  Greater Manchester 1999 *175 
			 Northern Ireland 2000 *100 
			 Merseyside 2001 660,000 
			 Cleveland 2002 *5,000 
			 National 2002–03 88,000,000 
			 National 2004 *707,000 
			 Suffolk 2005 (14)— 
			 West Midlands 2005 (14)— 
		
	
	(14) Costs not yet available.

PAC Report (Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster)

Andrew George: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  when he expects to reply to the Public Accounts Committee Report, "The Accounts of the Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster", published on 28 July;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the Public Accounts Committee Report, "The Accounts of the Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster", which was published on 28 July; and if he will seek to vary the method of accountability which applies to the Duchies.

John Healey: The Treasury Minute dated 7 November 2005 on the Nineteenth Report from the Committee of Public Accounts, Session 2004–05 (Cm 6682), gave the Government's response to the recommendations made direct to HM Treasury. The opportunity was also taken to publish the Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster's responses to the recommendations made direct to them, within the same document as the Treasury Minute.

World GDP

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what forecasts he has made of the proportionate share of world gross domestic product in (a) 2010, (b) 2025 and (c) 2050 which can be expected to be won by (i) the EU, (ii) the US, (iii) China and (iv) India.

Ivan Lewis: HM Treasury does not forecast shares of world GDP. However, HMT published estimated shares of world GDP (at purchasing power parity) for selected countries in 2015, in the paper "Long term economic challenges and opportunities for the UK", which accompanied the 2004 pre-Budget report (see chart 3.2, p23).
	Updated information is set out in the following table. HMT estimates do not extend beyond 2015, nor do they provide a figure for the EU.
	
		World GDP shares—percentage (in purchasing power parity)
		
			 Country 2004 2010(18) 
		
		
			 US 20.9 20.0 
			 China 13.2 16.5 
			 India 5.9 6.9 
		
	
	(18) Estimates.
	Note:
	These estimates are subject to considerable uncertainties and do not constitute formal HMT forecasts.
	Source:
	IMF, Consensus forecasts, HMT

Arms Trade

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken to support an international arms trade treaty.

Kim Howells: The Government have been pursuing the initiative for an international Arms Trade Treaty during the UK's presidencies of the G8 and of the EU. At Gleneagles in July, Heads of State of the G8 agreed that the
	"development of international standards in arms transfers . . . would be an important step toward tackling the undesirable proliferation of conventional arms".
	On 3 October EU Foreign Ministers added the EU's voice to the growing support for an international treaty to establish common standards for the global trade in conventional arms, and called for the start of a formal negotiation process at the UN at the earliest opportunity. The Government will continue to work to build the broad consensus needed to secure the start to negotiations in the UN.

Ethiopia/Eritrea

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Ethiopian Government concerning the recent violence in Ethiopia, with particular reference to relations between the Ethiopian People's Democratic Front and the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: We are gravely concerned about the outbreak of violence in Ethiopia since 1 November which has resulted in a number of deaths and injuries and a large number of detentions, including of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy leadership and civil society and media leaders.
	On 6 November, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development (Hilary Benn) spoke to Prime Minister Meles. This followed action by my noble Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Africa (Lord Triesman of Tottenham) who summoned the Ethiopian Chargé d'Affaires on 1 November to register our concerns. Our ambassador in Ethiopia has also raised our concerns with both Prime Minister Meles and with the Ethiopian Foreign Minister.
	In our capacity as presidency of the European Union, our ambassador to Ethiopia held a press conference in Addis Ababa with the United States ambassador on 6 November, where we called for the Government to restore peace and confidence in the democracy building process by ensuring due process of law and respect for human rights.

Public Service Agreement

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which data sources he will use to measure progress against 2004 Public Service Agreement target number 2.

Jack Straw: The 2004 Public Service Agreement (PSA) target number 2 covers Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) work on reducing the "risk from international terrorism".
	The FCO will use a variety of data sources including the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre's assessments of international terrorist threats and of terrorism trends, networks and capabilities; reporting from our diplomatic posts on trends in other governments' will and capacity to counter terrorism, and their success, or otherwise, in doing so; evaluations of our counter-terrorism capacity-building programmes in priority countries; and reports from government experts on the enhancement of protective security measures which reduce the vulnerability of UK citizens and UK interests overseas.
	As with other Government Departments, the FCO publishes an Autumn Performance Report containing progress against our PSA targets. The 2005 report will be published by early December and will be available in the Library of the House. It will contain information on the data sources used to generate performance assessments.

Public Service Agreement

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which data sources he will use to measure progress against 2004 Public Service Agreement target number 4.

Jack Straw: The 2004 Public Service Agreement (PSA) target number 4 covers Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) work on promoting a "reformed and effective EU", ranging from future financing to the Common Foreign and Security Policy. As this target touches on a wide variety of FCO activity, we draw on many data sources to measure progress across the target.
	These sources include: internal judgments made by the FCO and other Departments, based on feedback inter alia from other member states and the EU institutions; the outcome of Council and other EU-level meetings; political reporting from our Diplomatic Posts; and media commentary in the UK and across the rest of Europe. We use the Eurobarometer opinion poll to measure public awareness of the EU.
	As with other Government Departments, the FCO publishes an Autumn Performance Report containing progress against our PSA targets. The 2005 report will be published by early December and will be available in the Library of the House. It will contain information on the data sources used to generate performance assessments.

Public Service Agreement

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which data sources he will use to measure progress against 2004 public service agreement target number 7.

Jack Straw: The 2004 public service agreement (PSA) target number 7 covers Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) work on increasing
	"understanding of and engagement with, Islamic countries and communities",
	and promoting political and socio-economic reform.
	Our data sources for measuring progress against this target will include Freedom House, EU Neighbourhood Policy Action Plans, World Bank regional studies, United Nations Development Programme—Human Development Reports, Pew Global Attitudes Surveys and other surveys.
	As with other Government Departments, the FCO publishes an autumn performance report containing progress against our PSA targets. The 2005 report will be published by early December and will be available in the Library of the House. It will contain information on the data sources used to generate performance assessments.

Public Service Agreement

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which data sources he will use to measure progress against 2004 public service agreement target number 8.

Jack Straw: The 2004 public service agreement (PSA) target number 8 covers Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) work on promoting
	"sustainable development, underpinned by democracy, good governance and human rights".
	Details of the data sources we use to assess performance across this target are contained in the FCO's PSA 'Technical Note'. This document is available on the FCO website. Pages 33 to 36 relate to PSA 8:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/KFile/SR04PSATechnicalNote.0.pdf.
	Delivery of the PSA is also supported by the Global Opportunities Fund Sustainable Development Programme, which provides £5 million per year for sustainable development and human rights projects in priority countries. Progress is measured individually for each project.
	Specific aims, targets and objectives on the issues covered by PSA 8 are set out in our Sustainable Development Strategy and our Strategy on Human Rights, Democracy and Good Governance, both available at www.fco.gov.uk.
	As with other Government Departments, the FCO publishes an autumn performance report (APR) containing progress against our PSA targets. The 2005 report will be published by early December and will be available in the Library of the House. It will contain information on the data sources used to generate performance assessments.

Consultants

Martin Horwood: To ask the Leader of the House 
	(1)  what mechanisms are in place to assess the effectiveness of consultant-led projects in his Office; what sanctions are available to penalise consultants who run unsuccessful projects; how many projects conducted by consultants were assessed as unsuccessful in each year since 2000; and what sanctions were imposed in each case;
	(2)  if he will list projects conducted for his Office by consultants in each year since 2000; what the cost was in each case; and what the total cost of employing consultants was in each year;
	(3)  what steps his Office takes to ensure that consultancies do not claim excessive expenses.

Geoff Hoon: The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons has employed consultants on only one occasion since 2000, and this was successful.
	
		
			  Details of consultants employed 
		
		
			 Date August 2005 
			 ProjectReview of database technical applications 
			 Cost £3,760 
			 Total costs £3,760 
		
	
	No provision was made to enable them to claim expenses.
	When letting consultancy projects, we follow the principles and practices set out in the Office of Government Commerce's best practice guidance, "Delivering world-class consultancy services in the public sector".

Zurbaran Paintings

Helen Goodman: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners if he will make a statement on the future of the Zubarán paintings owned by the Commissioners, which hang in Auckland Castle.

Stuart Bell: The Commissioners' Board of Governors recently agreed to retain ownership of the paintings and to re-examine their future, along with the suitability of Auckland Castle, in five years.

Climate Change

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the implications of climate change for humanitarian response; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Disaster risk reduction is a key part of adaptation to climate change. The UK is working with the international community to help developing countries improve climate information and manage climate risks.
	DFID is part of an informal donors' group on climate change called the Vulnerability and Adaptation Resource Group (VARG). Through VARG, DFID has been involved in the production of a paper entitled "Poverty and Climate Change" (2003) which highlighted the growing significance of climate change on development and called for action to manage related risks. We are now working with other donors on a second paper on disaster risk reduction and climate change. This paper will seek to identify links between disaster prevention and climate change adaptation and to highlight any potential conflicts in current approaches.
	DFID is also working with the UN, World Bank and developing countries, particularly the most disaster prone, to help them tackle disaster risk more effectively. We plan to publish a policy and implementation plan on our approach to disaster risk reduction later this year. This will include ways in which we aim to integrate climate change adaptation into disaster risk reduction work.
	At Gleneagles, G8 Heads invited the World Bank to develop and implement "best practice" guidelines for screening investments in climate sensitive sectors. The aim would be to determine how impacts related to climate change might affect the performance of such investments. For example, investments in long-life infrastructure, such as housing, roads, bridges and industry, could be at increased risk of flooding or hurricanes. G8 Heads further encouraged all major bilateral and multilateral development organisations to follow suit. DFID is working to begin implementation of such arrangements by 2008. This is in line with the Commission for Africa recommendation.

Electoral Commission

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission how much the Commission spent on (a) salaries, (b) publications, (c) advertising and (d) other major items in each of the past five years.

Peter Viggers: Details of expenditure on salaries, publications, and advertising in each of the years concerned, supplied by the Electoral Commission, is set out in the following table.
	
		
			£ million 
			  Salaries Publications Advertising 
		
		
			 2001–02 1.800 0.443 0.228 
			 2002–03 2.060 0.542 4.721 
			 2003–04 3.270 0.503 4.238 
			 2004–05 4.697 0.412 4.937 
			 2005–06 4.750 0.452 5.328 
		
	
	(21) Estimated
	The Electoral Commission has advised me that other major items of expenditure in this period have included: Training for the European Parliamentary elections (2003–04 to 2004–05—£2.52 million); and the north-east regional referendum (2004–05 £4.00 million).
	Further detailed information in respect of the years 2001–02 to 2003–04 is available in the Commission's Annual Reports and Accounts. These are available in the Library of the House. The Commission's Report and Accounts for 2004–05 have been laid before the House and will be published shortly.

Research Funding

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what resource allocation the Electoral Commission has made for research into (a) under-registration and (b) postal vote fraud in each of the last five years.

Peter Viggers: The Commission informs me that expenditure on dedicated research on registration issues in Great Britain and Northern Ireland in each of the last five years is as set out in the following table:
	
		
			   £ 
			  Great Britain Northern Ireland 
		
		
			 2001–02(23) — — 
			 2002–03(23) — 39,405 
			 2003–04(23) — 40,185 
			 2004–05(23) 106,750 39,314 
			 2005–06(24) — 29,500 
		
	
	(23) Actual
	(24) Provision
	In addition the Commission has regularly conducted research into public opinion about electoral issues generally, including registration and the security of postal voting. The following table sets out the overall expenditure on such public opinion research projects in each of the last five years that have addressed one or both of these subjects:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2001–02(25) 60,000 
			 2002–03(25) 89,065 
			 2003–04(25) 346,332 
			 2004–05(25) 343,706 
			 2005–06(26) 218,305 
		
	
	(25) Actual
	(26) Provision
	In addition to research projects, the Commission invests significant resources in identifying and analysing the scale and frequency of postal voting fraud, through monitoring electoral petitions and fraud prosecutions and liaison with the police, prosecuting authorities, and Electoral Registration and Returning Officers.

Under-registration/Postal Fraud

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what assessment the Commission has made of the likely impact under-registration may have on the size of the electorates in new constituencies proposed by the Boundaries Commission.

Peter Viggers: The Commission advises me that it has made no such assessment. Its recently published report "Understanding electoral registration" includes a detailed analysis of the extent and reasons for non-registration in Great Britain.

BBC

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will discuss the BBC's parliamentary and political coverage with the Chairman and Director General as part of the Charter renewal process.

Tessa Jowell: The Green Paper, "A Strong BBC, independent of Government", proposes that 'sustaining citizenship' should be one of the BBC's core public purposes in the next Charter period. It makes clear that high quality news and current affairs, and coverage of Parliament, are central to this purpose.

Music Teaching

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to increase the playing of musical instruments by young people.

David Lammy: Responsibility for music within schools falls with the Department for Education and Skills.
	My Department continues to work very closely with Education and Skills colleagues on the Music Manifesto, which celebrated its first anniversary in July. This sets out a series of shared aims for music education over the next three to five years.
	Last week I jointly announced with the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools a £2 million investment in three new Music Manifesto pathfinder centres at The Sage Gateshead, the Roundhouse in London and the Hallé in Manchester. Over the next two and a half years these pathfinders will benefit over 100,000 young people and more than 500 music teachers and leaders.

Licensing Applications

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what guidance the Government have provided to local authorities on informing local residents of a premise's licence application made under the Licensing Act 2003.

James Purnell: The burden of advertising applications for premises licences falls on the applicants, rather than on local authorities. Articles 25 and 26 of the Licensing Act 2003 (Premises licences and club premises certificates) Regulations 2005 include detailed provisions covering the form and nature of advertisements required of applicants.
	Should local authorities wish, additionally, to undertake any further advertisement of applications, it is a matter for them.

Public Libraries

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of loaned items were accounted for by the borrowing of (a) books, (b) videos, (c) DVDs and (d) CDs from libraries in (i) Brent and (ii) each borough in London in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: This information is not held centrally. However, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 29 June 2005 on book loans by London libraries and on 3 November about the loan of audio-visual items by Brent libraries and London libraries. The following table shows the number of book and total loans by Brent from 1997–98 and 2003–04 and total loans by London libraries as a whole for the same period. These figures are drawn from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy's annual Public Library Statistics (Actuals) which also contain figures for individual library authorities. Copies are kept in the House of Commons Library.
	
		
			  Brent Greater London 
			  Book loans All loans All loans 
		
		
			 1997–98 1,419,752 (28)1,419,752 61,908,130 
			 1998–99 1,216,032 (28)1,216,032 59,372,374 
			 1999–2000 1,094,504 1,254,051 54,700,891 
			 2000–01 1,055,862 1,247,619 52,949,785 
			 2001–02 1,098,832 1,308,111 50,836,822 
			 2002–03 1,139,873 1,381,696 49,390,102 
			 2003–04 1,148,616 1,374,667 46,867,270 
		
	
	(28) No "Total Audio-visual, electronic and other issues" figure shown by Brent for this year.

Youth Shelters

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether she plans to fund the expansion of youth shelters in England.

David Lammy: I have no plans to fund the expansion of youth shelters in England. However, my Department is working closely with the Department for Education and Skills on the implementation of "Youth Matters", the youth Green Paper which was published in July this year.
	A key strand in Youth Matters is the provision of more "things to do and places to go" for young people in their local area and more choice and influence over what is available.
	Youth Matters proposes the establishment of an "Opportunity Fund" in each local authority to be spent at young people's discretion on projects they want to do to improve things to do and places to go in their area. This could include the provision of youth shelters.

Adult Guidance Provision

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her Department's policy is on adult guidance provision.

Phil Hope: The Department's policy is that every adult in England should have access to a free, integrated information and advice service on learning and work delivered through the national learndirect telephone and on-line advice service and local nextstep information and advice services. Priority is given within this service to those adults who do not have a qualification at Level 2, since they are more likely to lack the skills foundation for employability and lifelong learning, and are less likely to get a secure, well paid job. In addition, adults participating in any LSC funded learning can also access information and advice services through their learning provider.
	The White Paper "Skills: getting on in business, getting on at work" sets out a long-term ambition: that everyone should be able to get help if and when they want it to take stock of where they are in their lives and their careers; to review where they would like to get to; and assess what steps they can take to get there. We are jointly conducting a review with the Department for Work and Pensions, the DTI, the LSC, Ufi learndirect, Jobcentre Plus, and the Sector Skills Development Agency to help determine how best to achieve this goal, which will be concluded by the end of 2006. We are extending the learndirect telephone service on a trial basis from January 2006 to provide more intensive personal guidance to inform the review. Adults throughout England seeking to progress in their careers; wanting to gain the skills for jobs typically requiring a Level 3 qualification; and returning to work from career breaks, will benefit from the new service.

Autism

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps the Government is taking to ensure all staff working in (a) schools and (b) other children's services receive sufficient and suitable training to equip them to work with children with autism.

Jacqui Smith: I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 3 November 2005, Official Report, column 1309W, in response to her earlier question on minimum training standards for people who work with autistic children.
	Once qualified, all teachers are expected to identify their development needs through performance management arrangements, and to address identified needs by undertaking appropriate professional development. This includes strengthening knowledge of special educational needs. All schools receive a School Development Grant which they are able to use to support improvements in any aspect of teaching and learning. Local authorities may retain a proportion of this grant, under certain conditions, to provide specific training and development of SEN.
	The Department's published SEN Strategy, "Removing Barriers to Achievement" recognised the importance of training and committed us to work closely with the Training and Development Agency for Schools to ensure that initial teacher training and programmes of continuing professional development provide a good grounding in core skills and knowledge of SEN, which of course covers a wide range of conditions, including autism.
	We have commissioned the IDA to carry forward a range of initiatives designed to improve and strengthen the SEN skills and confidence of trainees, newly qualified and established teachers. These initiatives will be implemented over the period 2005—2008 at a cost of approximately £1.1 million. The TDA will be reviewing its Standards, as part of its new responsibilities for the school work force, and the Department will feed in to that process.
	On the wider children's services front, we have developed the Common Core of Skills and Knowledge to support and focus professional development in the children's work force, including those working for private and voluntary sector. It also covers those working with disadvantaged children as well as those with a disability. The Common Core sets out the areas of expertise that everyone working with children, young people and families (including those who work as volunteers) should be able to demonstrate. It sets out the skills and knowledge that, if accredited, could form the basis of a minimum competence for working with children, young people and their families.
	There is funding available under the National Training Strategy Grant and Human Resources Development Strategy through local authorities and other organisations, for a number of initiatives to support social work, education and training, provide financial support to students and strengthen the social work and social care work force (with children and adults). It would be appropriate for some of this to be used for training for those in children's services working with children with autism, but the Government does not specify a proportion that has to be used in this way.

Basic Skills Agency

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the performance of the Basic Skills Agency; what funding it has received since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Basic Skills Agency (BSA) has received a total of £52 million in core grant funding since the 1996–97 financial year. The agency has also received additional funding for fixed term initiatives and contracts.
	The BSA as a 'near to Government body', was subject to a quinquennial review in 2001. The review reported positively that BSA was making
	"a valuable contribution across the breadth of its activities"
	and that there was
	"a very strong case for retention of the Agency as an independent body at arms length to the Department, with a remit which continues to cover basic skills both for pupils and adults".
	The Department for Education and Skills regularly reviews the Agency's performance and is responsible for approving the BSA's strategic plan and annual delivery plan. DfES continues to work closely with the BSA on the delivery of its current three-year strategic plan and annual delivery plan, which is supported by DfES core funding. BSA's performance is reviewed each month against their delivery plan and their core grant is paid on the basis of this assessment.

Consultants

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps the Department takes to ensure that consultancies do not claim excessive expenses while working for her Department and its agencies.

Bill Rammell: My Department has effective financial controls in place, and follows HM Treasury "Government Accounting 2000" guidelines on the responsibilities of Accounting Officers.
	My Department also uses 'model' contracts for Consultancy which contain specific clauses and guidance to ensure that Departmental limits are applied to consultancy expenses claims. In addition to this the Departments policy is to ensure that invoices are thoroughly checked for propriety and value for money.

Departmental Engagements

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the Minister for Children's departmental engagements have been since 1 September.

Beverley Hughes: My external departmental engagements from 1 September to 11 November are listed as follows:
	
		
			  Engagement 
		
		
			 1 September 2005 Metropolitan Police Child Abuse Command, London 
			 2 September 2005 Parent Partnership, Beechwood Family Support, Watford 
			 7 September 2005 Michael SIEFF Foundation Conference "Every Young Person Matters" 
			 8 September 2005 Milton Keynes, Round Table discussion with Children's services partners Galley Hill Education Centre, Milton Keynes 
			 9 September 2005 Health Inequalities Conference, Manchester Benchill Play centre, Manchester 
			 21 September 2005 Early Childhood Forum, London Children's Workforce Network, London 
			 23 September 2005 Chester Youth Forum, Chester 
			 27 September 2005 RU-OK? (Young people' substance abuse project), Brighton 
			 30 September 2005 Brook Advisory Centre, Manchester 
			 3 October 2005 Harpurhey Centre, North Manchester Sixth Form College, Manchester Grange Community Resource Centre, Manchester URBIS—Museum of Urban life, Manchester Manchester Town Hall, Manchester 
			 4 0ctober 2005 Saltash college, Cornwall 
			  Estover Community College Devon Children's Trust—Roundtable discussion with Children's Services partners, Exeter 
			 5 October 2005 Bideford Sure Start Children's Centre, Cornwall Flashpoint Life Skills Centre, Cornwall Bodmin SHARE information and advice service, Cornwall 
			 7 October 2005 Bridehill Sure Start Children's Centre, Stockport Stepping Hill Hospital Birth Centre, Stockport 
			 10 October 2005 Roundtable discussion with Children's Services partners, Hull 
			 11 October 2005 Coram Family, London Local Government Association Youth Matters conference Reception for childminders and pre-school teachers in Enfield, House of Commons 
			 12 October 2005 Teenage Magazine Arbitration Panel, Holborn 
			 13 October 2005 ACPO Youth Justice Conference, Belfast 
			 19 October 2005 Paediatrics and Child Health Conference, London IPPR Active Fatherhood project launch, London 
			 20 October 2005 DfES Social Enterprise Seminar, London 
			 21 October 2005 LGA/ADSS Conference, Birmingham NFPI Parents Consultation event, Old Trafford 
			 25 October 2005 NPQICL Graduation Ceremony 
			 26 October 2005 BAAF Private Fostering Reception, House of Commons 
			 31 October 2005 Whitby High Schools, Ellesmere Port 
			 1 November 2005 Daycare Trust Annual Conference, London Ormiston Children and Families Trust Launch event, House of Commons Connexions Youth Green Paper Event, London 
			 8 November 2005 Gospel Oak Children's Centre, London "Brake" launch of Road Safety Week Campaign; London NSPCC Reception, London DfES Board of Children, Young People and Families Stakeholders, London 
			 9 November 2005 West London Centre of Vocational Excellence Centre 
			 10 November 2005 Continyou Extra Community Conference, Coventry

Higher Education

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding the Government has provided for higher education in each of the last five years.

Bill Rammell: The total funding for higher education in England in the last five years is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  £ million 
			  HE funding 
		
		
			 2001–02 6,048 
			 2002–03 6,354 
			 2003–04 6,807 
			 2004–05 7,201 
			 2005–06 7,631 
		
	
	Source:
	DfES Departmental Report 2005, Annex B.
	Funding for HE in the devolved Administrations and in Northern Ireland is provided separately.

Learning and Skills Council

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 18 October 2005, Official Report, column 961W, on the Learning and Skills Council and of 8 November 2005 to question 19348, what the funding per learner was for those (a) studying levels four and five and (b) in higher education.

Bill Rammell: HEFCE funds all prescribed courses of higher education as defined by the Education Prescribed Courses of Higher Education Regulations 1998 and can also fund "non-prescribed" higher education courses. Prescribed higher education courses represents the vast majority of publicly funded higher education courses. The LSC funds a proportion of "non-prescribed" vocational and professional courses at levels 4 and 5. In 2003/04 there were 72,000 learners studying non-prescribed higher education courses in FECs and a further 70,000 learners studying prescribed higher education in FECs. The LSC funding per learner for non-prescribed higher education in 2003/04 was £600. This is the level of annual funding from the LSC rather than the funding for the whole qualification and does not take into account contributions from individuals or employers.

Ministerial Travel

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been spent in each year from 1 May 1997 on ministerial travel, broken down by (a) provision and running costs of vehicular transport, (b) first class travel by rail, (c) standard class travel by rail, (d) first class travel by air, (e) club or equivalent class travel by air and (f) economy class travel by air.

Maria Eagle: The information on the cost of ministerial travel could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
	Ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the "Ministerial Code" and "Travel by Ministers", copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
	In respect of ministerial cars provided by the Government Car and Despatch Service, my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office has asked Roy Burke, chief executive of the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) to write to the hon. Member with details of the costs of ministerial vehicles provided to Departments in 2004–05. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Library.
	For information for the financial years 2000–01 to 2003–04 I refer the hon. Member to the letters from the chief executive of the GCDA to the hon. Member for Buckingham (John Bercow), dated 10 January 2005 and to the then hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs dated 13 September 2003. Copies of these letters are available in the Library.
	In respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. These report information for the financial years 1995–96 to 2004–05. Information for 2005–06 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the current financial year.

Ministerial Travel

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list, for each year since 1995, the number of flights, including helicopter flights, taken by Ministers within her Department for UK and overseas visits; on how many occasions (a) charter flights were used and (b) first and club class tickets were obtained; and if she will indicate who accompanied the Ministers on each trip.

Maria Eagle: The information on the number of flights taken could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
	Ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the "Ministerial Code" and "Travel by Ministers", copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
	In respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government has published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The list indicates when non-scheduled flights were used, and shows how many officials accompanied Ministers in those circumstances. The Government has also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. These report information reaching back to 1995–96. Information for 2005–06 will be published after the end of the financial year.

Offender Learning

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how the re-apportionment of funds as laid out in "Priorities for Success" will affect offender learning.

Phil Hope: The Learning and Skills Council's document "Priorities for Success" and the Secretary of State's grant letter to the LSC for 2006–07 both stress the importance of learning and skills for offenders as the LSC moves to take full responsibility for planning and funding this group of learners from 31 July 2006. The resources transferring from the Department to the LSC to fund these new responsibilities will be ring-fenced for offender learning.
	Engagement of offender learning with mainstream provision is a key benefit of the LSC taking up its new responsibilities. "Priorities for Success" will mean mainstream providers are encouraged to focus on the needs of offender learners, especially those who continue courses of study that were started while in custody, with a consequent focusing of the public funds already in the system onto this priority group.

Private Sector Training Expenditure

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much (a) manufacturing, (b) construction, (c) food and drink and (d) financial services industries have spent on education and training in each of the last five years.

Phil Hope: Analysis of the National Employers Skills Survey (2004) indicates that the estimated annual employer expenditure on training by sector was as follows: Manufacturing—£440 million; Construction—£240 million; Food and Drink—£80 million; and Financial services—£280 million.
	This is the expenditure that employers reported as their "(out of pocket)" expenses only, and does not take into account internal training costs nor the cost of employees being away from their workplaces. The National Employers Skills Survey (2005) will address these issues and provide a more accurate reflection of the actual employer expenditure on Education and Training.
	Comparable data for previous years is not available.

Pupil Statistics

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children aged between five and 11 years are in full-time state education; and what estimate she has made of the figure for 2010.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools, pupil referral units, city technology colleges and academies: number (headcount) of pupils aged 5 to 11(31) England
		
			  Pupils aged 5 to 11 
			   January 2005(32)(33) Projections for January 2010(34)(35) 
		
		
			 Full-time pupils 4,054,630 3,864,910 
			 Part-time pupils 380 330 
			 Total pupils 4,055,010 3,865,240 
		
	
	(31) Includes solely and dually registered pupils.
	(32) Age as at 31 August 2004.
	(33) Source: Annual Schools' Census.
	(34) Age as at 31 August 2009.
	(35) Source: DfES.
	Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.

Schools

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what capital funding her Department (a) provides and (b) facilitates for rural schools for premises expansion.

Jacqui Smith: The Department provides capital investment that can be used for premises expansion, including at rural schools, through the following programmes. We cannot break this down for just rural schools.
	
		
			£ million 
			  2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 
		
		
			 Schools Devolved Funding 805 1,000 1,050 
			 LEA Delegated funding   
			 Modernisation 602 602 602 
			 Basic Need 590 400 400 
			 School Access Initiative 84 84 84 
			 BSF Programme 2,118 2,177 (36)2,240 
			 Academies 207 365 467 
			 VA Schools 352 444 473 
			 LSC Single Budget 0 70 100 
			 Targeted Capital Fund 200 300 500 
		
	
	Note:
	(36) Includes £1.2/£1.25/£1.3 billion of PFI credits

Skills for Life Courses

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answers of 7 November 2005, Official Report, column 130W, on Skills for Life courses, if she will place in the Library the evidence referred to in her answer to question 24962.

Phil Hope: It has been drawn to my attention that while the answer I made to question 24962 was done so in good faith and was based upon information passed to me by officials, it was inaccurate in its interpretation of the evidence referred to. I very much regret this.
	The Department is currently undertaking a longitudinal study of literacy and numeracy learners in FE colleges—a subset of Skills for Life learners. Reports on both the first and second stages of the survey will be published at the end of November 2005. The study found that 25 per cent. of this learner group had no qualifications and 86 per cent. had neither English nor Maths at Level 2 [a good GCSE A*-C]. In addition, 32 per cent. of this learner group were continuing with their full time education while 68 per cent. of learners had left. Among those who had left, 70 per cent. had left at age 16 or under. However, this does not rule out the possibility that these learners will have undertaken any post-16 education.
	There is further published evidence that also suggests a large proportion of participants on Skills for Life courses may have left school at or before the minimum age and may have no formal educational qualifications. I have placed in the Library of the House copies of two published DfES research reports which contain this evidence: "Evaluation of Adult Basic Skills Pathfinder Extension Activities: An Overview" by Michael White of the Policy Studies Institute; and "Evaluation Outcomes for Learners in Pathfinder Areas", which the company Taylor Nelson Sofres were commissioned to conduct.

Train2Gain Programme

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether a cost benefit analysis has been undertaken of the role of training brokers in the Train2Gain programme.

Phil Hope: The White Paper "Skills: Getting on in business, getting on at work" published in March this year made it clear that the lessons learnt from the Employer Training Pilots (ETP) will influence the development of a quality National Employer Training Programme.
	The evidence from the pilots shows that the skills brokers are a tried and tested method of engaging employers in the development of their businesses and employees and is a key element of the success of the pilots. For example, the ETP Year 2 Evaluation carried out by the Institute for Employment Studies and published alongside the White Paper, shows that brokers have been very successful in helping to engage hard to reach employers. The evaluation showed these employers found the role of brokers in carrying out a training needs analysis a major attraction. 63 per cent. of hard to reach employers cited the help of brokers linking training to business needs as an attraction of ETP (as did 55 per cent. of easy to reach employers) and thus helping to maximise the added value of the programme. Employers saw the support given to help them access flexible and responsive provision that meets their needs as a major attraction of the pilots (76 per cent. of employers cited flexibly delivered training as an attraction of ETP and 19 per cent. said it was the most attractive feature). Helping to broker the right learning for the employers and learners helps to reduce dropout and ensure high success rates.

Train2Gain Programme

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what is the role of a training broker in the Train2Gain programme.

Phil Hope: The White Paper "Skills: Getting on in business, getting on at work" published in March this year clearly states that "at the heart of the National Employer Training Programme is a brokerage service that will work on behalf of the employer." Skills brokers will provide independent and impartial advice to employers on the best type of training available and then source its delivery, to meet employer needs. Brokers will help employers find their way through the often complex world of skills training and help them develop relationships with training providers which will give them the best return on their investment. Brokers are there to make the employer's search for suitable training simpler and cost-effective. Once a training relationship to meet employer's needs is in place, it is for the employer and training provider to work directly together. So long as the employer is satisfied with the quality of training they are getting, the training provider can carry on supplying it.
	Brokers will particularly focus on reaching employers who may otherwise not invest in training, particularly small and medium-sized employers. The White Paper clearly states that raising the skill levels of this group is a fundamental aim.

Junk Food Advertising

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Government plans to restrict the advertising of crisps and cola drinks in Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: Advertising is regulated throughout the UK by the Advertising Standards Authority. The UK Government, in the public health White Paper, "Choosing Health", committed itself to securing, by 2007, a comprehensive and effective strategy for action to restrict the advertising and promotion to children of foods and drinks that are high in fat, salt and sugar. The Office of Communications (Ofcom) will, therefore, in the early part of 2006, be issuing a public consultation on broadcast advertising and promotion of food to children. As broadcast advertising is not a devolved matter, the consultation will be carried out on a UK-wide basis.

Murders

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those persons who have been murdered in Northern Ireland during the current troubles, stating in each case whether anyone has been (a) charged and (b) convicted of the murder in cases in which all proceedings are complete.

Shaun Woodward: In response to a parliamentary question in 1995, a document entitled "List of deaths due to the security situation, 1969 to 1995" was placed in the Library. It is impossible to answer the remainder of the question within the time available. However, the PSNI is currently preparing an updated list and upon completion a copy will be placed in the Library.

Punishment Beatings

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many punishment beatings were reported in each of the last 12 months, broken down by district command unit.

Shaun Woodward: The following table "Casualties as a result of paramilitary style assaults from October 2004 to September 2005" refers. You should note that 2005 statistics are provisional and subject to minor amendment.
	
		Casualties as a result of paramilitary style assaults—October 2004 to September 2005
		
			  2004 2005 
			 DCU October November December January February March April 
		
		
			 Antrim 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Ards 2 0 1 1 0 1 0 
			 Armagh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Banbridge 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 East Belfast 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 North Belfast 1 4 0 3 6 1 0 
			 South Belfast 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 
			 West Belfast 2 1 0 1 0 1 1 
			 Ballymena 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Ballymoney 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Carrickfergus 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Coleraine 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 
			 Cookstown 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Craigavon 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 
			 Castlereagh 0 0 0 0 0 0 [ 
			 Dungannon and S Tyrone 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 
			 Down 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 
			 Fermanagh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Foyle 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 
			 Larne 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Limavady 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Lisburn 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Magherafelt 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Moyle 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Newtownabbey 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 North Down 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Newry and Mourne 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 
			 Omagh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Strabane 0 1 2 0 0 1 0 
			 Total 9 11 6 9 11 10 4 
		
	
	
		
			  2005 
			 DCU May June July August September Total 
		
		
			 Antrim 0 3 2 0 o 5 
			 Ards 3 0 0 0 0 8 
			 Armagh 0 0 1 0 0 1 
			 Banbridge 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 East Belfast 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 North Belfast 1 1 0 0 0 17 
			 South Belfast 0 0 2 2 0 6 
			 West Belfast 0 1 0 0 0 7 
			 Ballymena 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Ballymoney 0 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Carrickfergus 0 4 0 1 0 7 
			 Coleraine 0 0 0 0 1 4 
			 Cookstown 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Craigavon 0 1 0 0 0 3 
			 Castlereagh 2 0 0 1 1 4 
			 Dungannon and S Tyrone 0 0 0 0 0 4 
			 Down 0 1 0 0 0 4 
			 Fermanagh 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Foyle 4 1 0 0 0 9 
			 Larne 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Limavady 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Lisburn 1 1 0 0 0 3 
			 Magherafelt 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Moyle 0 0 0 0 0 2 
			 Newtownabbey 2 1 0 1 0 6 
			 North Down 1 1 0 0 0 3 
			 Newry and Mourne 0 1 0 0 0 4 
			 Omagh 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Strabane 0 0 0 0 0 4 
			 Total 14 17 5 5 2 103 
		
	
	Source:
	Central Statistics Unit, Police Service of Northern Ireland

Legal Aid

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much legal aid was paid to (a) solicitors, (b) junior counsel and (c) senior counsel in each year in England and Wales since 2000.

Bridget Prentice: The table sets out the payments made both for the Community Legal Service and the Criminal Defence Service. Payment records at the Legal Services Commission do not differentiate between junior and senior counsel. The figures shown therefore account for payments made to all categories of barrister and solicitor.
	The figures are gross (i.e. not the cost to public funds) and do not include payments to other people and organisations such as Not for Profit agencies, mediators, trainers and the service for providing police station telephone advice. Figures shown in the Legal Services Commission's annual reports do include such figures.
	
		
			 £000 
			  Community legal service Criminal defence service 
			  Solicitor(43) Barrister Solicitor(43) Barrister 
		
		
			 2000–01 967,166 188,139 628,634 249,700 
			 2001–02 881,942 192,062 723,363 265,180 
			 2002–03 867,425 189,376 774,371 317,365 
			 2003–04 908,209 198,050 825,277 351,020 
			 2004–05 810,643 182,760 834,624 354,178 
		
	
	(43) Figures include third party disbursements (for example, expert witnesses)

Ministerial Travel

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister how much has been spent in each year from 1 May 1997 on his official travel, broken down by (a) provision and running costs of vehicular transport, (b) first class travel by rail, (c) standard class travel by rail, (d) first class travel by air, (e) club or equivalent class travel by air and (f) economy class travel by air.

Tony Blair: The information requested cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate costs.
	However, in respect of ministerial cars provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office (Mr. Murphy) has asked Roy Burke, Chief Executive of the GCDA to write to the hon. Member with details of the costs of ministerial vehicles provided to Departments in 2004–05. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Library of the House. For information for the financial years 2000–01 to 2003–04 I refer the hon. Member to the letters from the Chief Executive of the GCDA to the hon. Member for Buckingham (John Bercow) dated 10 January 2005 and to the then hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs (Howard Flight) dated 13 September 2003. Copies of these letters are available in the Library of the House.
	In respect of overseas travel, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. Copies of these lists are available in the Library of the House. Information on the number of officials accompanying ministers on overseas visits is included in the list. All Ministers travel arrangements are in accordance with the arrangements for official travel set out in Chapter 10 of the Ministerial Code, and the accompanying guidance document, "Travel by Ministers". Information for the year 2005–06 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the financial year.

Ministerial Travel

Michael Penning: To ask the Prime Minister how many (a) flights and (b) helicopter flights have been taken by Ministers within his Department for (i) UK and (ii) overseas visits; on how many occasions (A) charter flights were used and (B) first and club class tickets were obtained; and who accompanied the Ministers on each trip.

Tony Blair: The information requested cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate costs.
	However in respect of overseas travel, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. Copies of these lists are available in the Library of the House. Information on the number of officials accompanying ministers on overseas visits is included in the list. All Ministers travel arrangements are in accordance with the arrangements for official travel set out in Chapter 10 of the Ministerial Code, and the accompanying guidance document, "Travel by Ministers". Information for the year 2005–06 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the financial year.

Ministerial Travel

Greg Hands: To ask the Prime Minister when he last travelled on the London underground on official business.

Tony Blair: I travel making the most efficient and cost-effective arrangements, and use the underground as and when appropriate. My travel arrangements are in accordance with the arrangements for official travel set out in Chapter 10 of the Ministerial Code, and the accompanying guidance document, "Travel by Ministers".

Ministerial Visits

Michael Penning: To ask the Prime Minister how many times he has visited (a) Dacorum and (b) Hertfordshire in his official capacity in the last 12 months; and what the purpose was of each visit.

Tony Blair: I have visited Hertfordshire twice in the last year. My visits cover a range of matters including health, education, criminal justice and the economy. I travel making the most efficient and cost-effective arrangements. My travel arrangements are in accordance with the arrangements for official travel set out in Chapter 10 of the Ministerial Code, and the accompanying guidance document, "Travel by Ministers".

Benefits

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Gravesham constituency were entitled to an income-related benefit in each year since 1997.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is not available.
	Estimates of the number of pensioners entitled to the main income-related benefits are available on a national basis only. These can be found in the DWP report series: "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up"; copies of which are available in the Library.

Customer Management Systems

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the operation of the second-generation customer management system in call centres and benefits offices, with particular reference to efficiency in (a) call handling, (b) payment of benefits and (c) interaction with local authority housing benefit claims.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie to Mr. Boswell, dated 21 November 2005
	The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has asked me to reply to your enquiry concerning the operation of the second generation Customer Management System (CMS) in Contact Centres and benefit offices. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	CMS is the IT system that has been implemented to support a number of changes in the way our customers claim Jobcentre Plus benefits. These changes are part of a wider programme of service delivery modernisation in Jobcentre Plus that also includes, for example, greater use of telephone based contact with our customers and the adoption of standard operating processes.
	CMS was first introduced in Livingston in July 2003 and rollout to other sites commenced in October 2003. A second release was introduced on 13 December 2004, which made a number of improvements. This included electronic data transfer of information gathered in CMS directly into the Income Support Computer and Jobseeker's Allowance Payment Systems.
	With any major change, there is often a period of 'settling in' and this has been the case for the introduction of CMS and the new processes that it supports. Initially we encountered some difficulties in terms of speed, capacity and reliability of the system, although, not entirely to do with CMS itself but related to complementary systems that CMS relies upon. A series of technical releases have largely addressed these issues and the computer system itself is now performing as expected.
	As with all IT systems CMS has meant a significant change in the way staff in Jobcentre Plus do their job. They require a good understanding of how the whole process links together, including the importance of gathering information on behalf of Local Authorities (LA) and of getting it right at each stage. To support this we have developed in consultation with practitioners, a "toolkit" of advice and guidance aimed at all relevant staff and managers designed to explain and reinforce correct practice and allow managers to monitor consistently. Key messages have also been enhanced in the learning and development material being delivered to our staff.
	Despite this programme of improvement work, we know from feedback from LAs that there is further work to be done to ensure that the operation of CMS is successful. The process works best in those LAs where there are effective liaison arrangements between Jobcentre Plus and the LA. Ongoing improvement work is overseen by a joint DWP/Local Authority Association (LAA) steering group. The introduction of CMS Release 3 on 31st October 2005 addressed many of the issues around the amount of clerical documentation associated with the initial releases. The removal of these clerical workarounds through this release will lead to further improvements and will be evaluated by the LAA in early 2006.
	Jobcentre Plus is undergoing a massive change programme and is making considerable investment in improved information technology. However change on this scale does create challenges in maintaining levels of customer service for some parts of the business during this period of transition and transformation. As a result, some customers claiming working age benefits have, of late, experienced difficulties getting through to some of our contact centres. We have put measures in place to address this, including temporary adjustments to streamline business processes in order to maintain customer service whilst we go through this transition period. We have also strengthened recruitment plans supported by robust training programmes.
	Early indications following the process adjustments are encouraging. We have seen week on week improvements in customer service since beginning of September. Whilst we have sought to minimise the impact of these changes for our staff and customers, some disruption has been unavoidable and this may regrettably contribute to delays in processing benefit claims for some customers.
	I hope this is helpful.

Disability Living Allowance

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in West Lancashire are in receipt of disability living allowance high rate case component as well as high rate mobility.

Anne McGuire: The administration of disability living allowance is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Disability and Carers Service, Mr. Terry Moran. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Terry Moran to Rosie Cooper, dated 21 November 2005
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in West Lancashire are in receipt of disability living allowance high rate case component as well as high rate mobility. The Minister for Disabled People, Anne McGuire MP, promised you a substantive reply from the Chief Executive of the Disability and Carers Service.
	The requested information is in the following table:
	
		Disability living allowance, claimants in West Lancashire Parliamentary Constituency, receiving both higher rate mobility and highest rate care components, as at May 2005 Thousand
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Higher components DLA 0.9 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred and are expressed in thousands.
	2. Parliamentary constituencies are allocated using the relevant ONS postcode.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study
	I hope this is helpful.

Income Support (Appeals)

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average length of time taken by his Department to process requests for appeals of claims for income support awards was in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Anne McGuire: The administration of the Appeals Service is a matter for the chief executive of the Appeals Service, Christina Townsend. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Christina Townsend to Mr. Paul Goodman, dated 21 November 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question regarding the average length of time taken by his Department to process requests for appeals of claims for income support awards in the last 12 months for which figures are available.
	The information you have requested is shown in the table.
	
		Income support appeals 2004–05 by average total clearance duration
		
			  Number of weeks 
		
		
			 Lodged to received 11 
			 Received by Appeals Service to outcome 14 
			 Lodged to outcome 25 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. All figures are subject to change as more up to date data becomes available.
	2. "Lodged" denotes when an appeal is submitted to the first tier agency. Lodged data only enters the GAPS database when the appeal reaches the Appeals Service.
	3. Duration is derived by calculating the time difference from when an appeal is lodged until when it is cleared. It is represented in weeks, to the nearest whole week.
	4. Year 2004–05 is represented by all outcomes from April 2004 to March 2005 (including those cases that may have been lodged in an earlier year).
	Source:
	100 per cent. download of the generic appeals processing system
	I am unable to comment on the 11 weeks that it takes on average for an income support appeal to reach the Appeals Service, as this is a matter for the first tier agency preparing the appeal.
	The 14 week figure quoted takes into account the duration from receipt of the appeal until its conclusion and includes those appeals that are adjourned at first hearing upon judicial direction. This, therefore, increases the overall duration and is an issue outside of my remit of responsibility for the Administration of this Service.
	I can also let you know that the Secretary of State set a target for 2004–05 that the average waiting time for an appeal to be heard from receipt in the Appeals Service should be no more than 11 weeks and we met this target during 2004–05 for all appeals. specifically for income support appeals, we achieved a 10.3 weeks average waiting time. During this period, the average clearance time for an appeal from receipt in the Appeals Service, including those cases cleared before a tribunal hearing, was 8.89 weeks.
	We are constantly looking at ways in which to improve the level of service that we offer our customers. We are working with the first tier agencies to agree national service agreements in order to establish, amongst other things, a reduced end-to-end clearance target. We are also currently looking at how to improve our customers' overall experience of our Service, including reducing the time they must wait for their appeal to be heard, and we will be capturing customer feedback on this.
	I hope this information is helpful.

Jobcentre Plus

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many assaults there were on the staff of Jobcentre Plus in each of the last three years; and how many of these assaults resulted in successful prosecution.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie to Mr. Boswell, dated 21 November 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the number of assaults on Jobcentre Plus staff in each of the last three years and how many of these assaults resulted in prosecution. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	In answer to your specific questions we have limited our response to actual physical assaults, although we also data collect on other categories of unacceptable behaviour. The available data on actual physical assaults for the last three years in Jobcentre Plus is provided below. Data is not held on how many of these assaults resulted in successful prosecution, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			 Calendar year Assaults 
		
		
			 2002 203 
			 2003 235 
			 2004 329 
		
	
	It may be helpful if I explain the background to these figures. Although data indicates there has been a rise in the number of incidents reported in the last 3 years it is not possible to identify any causal relationships. Not only are there significant variables such as staffing levels, types and numbers of offices and methods of service delivery over this period which render year on year comparisons, this period also coincides with a number of initiatives within the Department encouraging staff to report all incidents so that lessons can be learned and appropriate remedial action taken.

Jobcentre Plus

Malcolm Rifkind: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  which independent consultants were engaged for the Jobcentre Plus Programme procurement review; what reports were commissioned as part of the review; and whether he plans to publish the reports that were commissioned as part of the review;
	(2)  when he expects to publish the findings of the Jobcentre Plus programme procurement review;
	(3)  what the status is of the Jobcentre Plus programme procurement review.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie to Sir Malcolm Rifkind, dated 21 November 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions concerning the Jobcentre Plus programme procurement review. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as chief executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The research into Jobcentre Plus programme procurement policy and procedures was commissioned from independent consultants PKF and Rocksharp. Their work was completed in the spring of 2003. The findings were presented to senior managers and formed the basis of the recommendations and actions of the programme procurement review. The review was supported by the Jobcentre Plus board and a steering group which included the DWP Director of Procurement. The findings and recommendations from the reviews were not required or presented in the format of final reports' intended for publication.
	The ongoing work in delivering outstanding recommendations of the review and in developing further changes in support of the efficiency agenda is continuing as part of the wider DWP procurement modernisation programme.
	I hope this is helpful.

Jobseeker's Allowance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the efficiency of the computer system dealing with the processing of claims for jobseeker's allowance.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie to Mr. Laws, dated 21 November 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the efficiency of the computer system dealing with the processing of claims for Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA).
	Claims to JSA are processed using two computer systems. The JSA Payments Systems (JSAPS) which was implemented in 1996 is used to process completed claims and make payments of JSA to customers. This system has a very good record of reliability. Since 2003 Jobcentre Plus has been introducing a new process for taking claims for benefit, supported by the Customer Management computer system (CMS).
	Jobcentre Plus is undergoing a massive change programme and is making considerable investment in improved IT. CMS is the first stage of our IT modernisation programme and is being implemented as part of the roll out programme to support the Jobcentre Plus new and repeat claim standard operating model. We started to introduce CMS in October 2003 and we brought in additional enhancements in December 2004 with CMS release 2. CMS Release 2 introduced new functionality to enable electronic data transfer from CMS to legacy benefit systems including JSAPS. Electronic data transfer replaces the need for manual re-keying of information that has already been gathered in CMS as part of the new claims process.
	The modifications introduced by CMS release 2 led to some transitional problems with reliability and speed. These problems have since been addressed through a series of performance releases and CMS and is now delivering as agreed.
	CMS Release 3, which went live on 31 October 2005, has been driven by user feedback and introduced a number of enhancements that make the process easier to follow and reduces the opportunity for error and the subsequent need for re-work. The enhancements to CMS Release 3 have been well received by staff.
	I hope this is helpful.

Obesity

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effect on the economy of sickness absence due to obesity in the last five years.

Margaret Hodge: This Department has not commissioned nor evaluated any research on the effect on the economy of sickness absence due to obesity within the last five years.

Outsourced Programmes

Malcolm Rifkind: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the total value was of outsourced (a) employment and (b) training programmes in London for each year since 2001;
	(2)  what the total value was of outsourced (a) employment and (b) training programmes for each year since 2001.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie to Sir Malcolm Rifkind, dated 21 November 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning what the total value was of outsourced employment and training programmes in London for each year since 2001. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The table below details the amounts spent in London on employment and training programmes, both by Jobcentre Plus London Region and by DWP Work, Welfare & Equality Group on Employment Zones and Action teams.
	
		
			 £ million 
			  2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Employment programmes 67 93 118 141 
			 Training programmes 35 22 26 42 
			 Total programmes 101 115 144 184 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest £ million and exclude receipts.
	2. Figures also exclude expenditure under centrally managed budgets.
	3. Figures may not sum due to rounding.
	The amounts shown for training programmes cover work-based learning for adults and basic skills training which have a close employment focus. In the same way, many of our employment programmes have elements of training within them.
	I hope this is helpful.

Pathways to Work

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) existing and (b) new claimants of incapacity benefits (i) were covered by Pathways to Work pilots in (A) October 2003, (B) April 2004 and (C) October 2005 and (ii) he expects to be covered in (1) April 2006 and (2) October 2006.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 10 November 2005
	The information is in the table.
	
		Pathways to Work incapacity benefit totals
		
			  Existing customer case load New customers in month 
		
		
			 October 2003(44)(45) 114,700 2,300 
			 April 2004(45)(46) 251,500 4,800 
			 October 2005(47)(48) 415,100 7,700 
			 April 2006(48)(49) 731,500 13,300 
			 October 2006(48)(50) 853,300 15,000 
		
	
	(44) Jobcentre Plus Districts included: Renfrewshire Inverclyde Argyll and Bute; Bridgend Rhondda Cynon and Taf and Derbyshire
	(45) Data to April and actual. Data after this point are forecast data.
	(46) Jobcentre Plus Districts included: As note 1 plus Essex, Gateshead and South Tyneside, Somerset and East Lancashire.
	(47) Jobcentre Plus Districts included: As note 3 plus Glasgow, Cumbria, Lancashire West and Tees Valley.
	(48) Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	(49) Jobcentre Plus Districts included: As note 4 plus Barnsley Rotherham and Doncaster, City of Sunderland, County Durham, Lanarkshire and East Dumbarton, Liverpool and Wirral, Manchester and Salford and Swansea and West Wales.
	(50) Jobcentre Plus Districts included: As note 6 plus Eastern Valleys, Greater Mersey and Staffordshire.

Pensions

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the level of the basic state pension in the United Kingdom is as a percentage of gross domestic product; and what assessment he has made of how this compares with other European Union countries.

Stephen Timms: The figure for the amount spent on state pensions as a whole in the UK as a proportion of gross domestic product (GDP) is 5.5 per cent. Studies by the European Union's Economic Policy Committee have shown the average figure for the European Union 15 is 10.5 per cent., with the UK's system deemed to be sustainable in the long-term. Such figures do not, of course, take account of non-state provision, which is significantly higher in the UK than in many other member states.
	It should be stressed that the UK's system of support for the elderly is aimed at addressing poverty as well as replacing in-work income. An up-to-date and more indicative comparison is the harmonised expenditure on the elderly as a percentage of GDP. The European Statistical Agency's data published in October 2005 show that the UK spent 11.7 per cent. in 2002 (before the introduction of pension credit and age-related payments), which is at the upper end of the overall range of expenditure in EU member states, of between 3.6 and 14.9 per cent.
	Note:
	The European Union 15 member states at 30 April 2004 comprised: Austria; Belgium; Denmark; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Ireland; Italy; Luxembourg; Netherlands; Portugal; Spain; Sweden; and the UK.
	Sources:
	1. The European Union's Economic Policy Committee study: "Budgetary Challenges posed by ageing populations: the impact on public spending on pensions, health and long-term care for the elderly and possible indicators of the long-term sustainability of public finances" EPC 2001, EPC/ECFIN/655/01-EN Final. 2. Joint report of the Commission and the Council on adequate and sustainable pensions March 2003. 3. EUROSTAT's (the European Statistical Agency) October 2005 publication, "European social policy statistics: Social protection—Expenditure and receipts".

Poverty

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children were living in poverty in each (a) constituency and (b) local authority area in each of the last 30 years.

Margaret Hodge: Specific information regarding low income for Great Britain is available in "Households Below Average Income 1994/95–2003/04", available in the Library. The threshold of below 60 per cent. contemporary median income is the most commonly used in reporting trends in low income.
	The data source does not allow us to provide robust estimates below regional level. Estimates at a regional level can be provided using data from 1994–95.
	The number of children in households with low incomes, by Government Office Regions, Scotland and Wales over the period 1994–95 to 2003–04, is presented in the following table:
	
		Number of children Million
		
			  Three-year rolling averages 
			  1994–95 to 1996–97 1995–96 to 1997–98 1996–97 to 1998–99 1997–98 to 1999–2000 1998–99 to 2000–01 1999–2000 to 2001–02 2000–01 to 2002–03 2001–02 to 2003–04 
		
		
			 Before housing costs 
			 North East 0.18 0.18 0.18 0.18 0.18 0.15 0.16 0.15 
			 North West and Merseyside 0.41 0.42 0.47 0.47 0.43 0.38 0.36 0.36 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 0.33 0.33 0.34 0.34 0.32 0.30 0.28 0.27 
			 East Midlands 0.21 0.21 0.22 0.21 0.22 0.21 0.22 0.21 
			 West Midlands 0.27 0.33 0.33 0.32 0.31 0.31 0.29 0.29 
			 Eastern 0.25 0.20 0.22 0.21 0.19 0.17 0.15 0.17 
			 London 0.36 0.38 0.39 0.39 0.38 0.37 0.36 0.37 
			 South East 0.27 0.28 0.28 0.27 0.24 0.24 0.22 0.22 
			 South West 0.19 0.20 0.22 0.22 0.20 0.18 0.17 0.17 
			 Wales 0.18 0.19 0.18 0.18 0.18 0.17 0.16 0.15 
			 Scotland 0.30 0.31 0.31 0.29 0.27 0.26 0.25 0.24 
			 After housing costs 
			 North East 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.19 0.19 0.17 
			 North West Merseyside 0.54 0.55 0.58 0.58 0.55 0.51 0.49 0.47 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 0.38 0.39 0.40 0.40 0.38 0.36 0.34 0.34 
			 East Midlands 0.28 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.26 0.27 0.25 
			 West Midlands 0.34 0.40 0.40 0.39 0.40 0.40 0.39 0.38 
			 Eastern 0.36 0.30 0.32 0.30 0.29 0.28 0.27 0.27 
			 London 0.61 0.64 0.65 0.65 0.64 0.63 0.61 0.60 
			 South East 0.44 0.44 0.43 0.42 0.41 0.41 0.38 0.37 
			 South West 0.31 0.31 0.32 0.32 0.30 0.29 0.27 0.28 
			 Wales 0.23 0.23 0.23 0.23 0.23 0.21 0.20 0.19 
			 Scotland 0.34 0.35 0.34 0.33 0.32 0.32 0.30 0.28 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are provided using a three-year rolled average, as single-year estimates do not provide a robust guide to year on year changes. Hence, figures are not consistent with previously published single-year estimates and there may be differences in changes over time. In circumstances such as a change in trend, rolled-averages will show less variation than single year estimates.
	2. Table shows number of children in millions rounded to the nearest 10 thousand.
	3. In this answer low income is determined for individuals as living in households with incomes below 60 per cent. of the GB median.

Poverty

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) children and (b) pensioners were living in poverty in (i) Brent, (ii) Brent East and (iii) London in (A) 1997 and (B) 2005.

Margaret Hodge: Poverty is about more than low income. It is also about health, housing, education and the quality of the environment. The seventh annual 'Opportunity for all' report, published recently, sets out the Government's strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion and presents information on the indicators used to measure progress against this.
	Specific information regarding low income for Great Britain is available in "Households Below Average Income (HBAI) 1994/95–2003/04", available in the Library. The threshold of below 60 per cent. contemporary median income is the most commonly used in reporting trends in low income.
	The information requested is not available below regional level. Information for numbers in London is presented in the following table.
	
		Children and pensioners living in households in London with less than 60 per cent. of relative median household income 1996–97 to 1998–99 and 2001–02 to 2003–04
		
			  Three-year rolling averages 
			  1996–97 to 1998–99 2001–02 to 2003–04 
		
		
			 Before housing costs   
			 Number of children (million) 0.39 0.37 
			 Percentage of children 25 23 
			 Number of pensioners (million) 0.19 0.19 
			 Percentage of all pensioners 19 19 
			
			 After housing costs   
			 Number of children (million) 0.65 0.60 
			 Percentage of children 41 38 
			 Number of pensioners (million) 0.30 0.24 
			 Percentage of all pensioners 30 24 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are provided using a three-year rolled average, as single-year estimates do not provide a robust guide to year on year changes. Hence, figures are not consistent with previously published single-year estimates and there may be differences in changes over time. In circumstances such as a change in trend, rolled-averages will show less variation than single year estimates.
	2. In this answer low income is determined for individuals as living in households with incomes below 60 per cent. of the GB median.
	3. Tables show numbers of children/pensioners in millions rounded to the nearest 10,000, and percentages to the nearest percentage point.

Poverty

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children were living in poverty in West Lancashire in each of the last 30 years for which figures are available.

Margaret Hodge: Specific information regarding low income for Great Britain is available in "Households Below Average Income 1994–95 to 2003–04". The threshold of below 60 per cent. contemporary median income is the most commonly used in reporting trends in low income.
	Information below regional level is not available. Estimates at a regional level can be provided using data from 1994–95. The available information is in the table.
	
		The number of children and the percentage of children living in households in households with low incomes, for the North West and Merseyside Government Office Regions, over the period 1994–95 to 2003–04
		
			  Three year rolling averages 
			  Number of children (in millions) Percentage of children 
		
		
			 Before housing costs  
			 1994–95 to 1996–97 0.41 26 
			 1995–96 to 1997–98 0.42 26 
			 1996–97 to 1998–99 0.47 30 
			 1997–98 to 1999–2000 0.47 30 
			 1998–99 to 2000–01 0.43 28 
			 1999–2000 to 2001–02 0.38 25 
			 2000–01 to 2002–03 0.36 23 
			 2001–02 to 2003–04 0.36 23 
			
			 After housing costs   
			 1994–95 to 1996–97 0.54 34 
			 1995–96 to 1997–98 0.55 35 
			 1996–97 to 1998–99 0.58 37 
			 1997–98 to 1999–2000 0.58 37 
			 1998–99 to 2000–01 0.55 35 
			 1999–2000 to 2001–02 0.51 33 
			 2000–01 to 2002–03 0.49 32 
			 2001–02 to 2003–04 0.47 30 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are provided using a three-year rolled average, as single-year estimates do not provide a robust guide to year-on-year changes. Hence, figures are not consistent with previously published single-year estimates and there may be differences in changes over time. In circumstances such as a change in trend, rolled-averages will show less variation than single year estimates.
	2. Table shows number of children in millions rounded to the nearest 10 thousand.
	3. In this answer low income is determined for individuals as living in households with incomes below 60 per cent. of the GB median.
	Source:
	Family Resources Survey

Poverty

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) children, (b) pensioners and (c) working age adults have been living in (i) relative and (ii) absolute poverty in the UK since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: Specific information regarding low income for Great Britain is available in "Households Below Average Income (HBAI) 1994/95–2003/04", available in the Library. The threshold of below 60 per cent. contemporary median income is the most commonly used in reporting trends in low income.
	There is no fully consistent low-income time series using a single data source since 1979. The latest time series on a consistent basis is only available from 1994–95, which is sourced from the Family Resources Survey and covers Great Britain. Previous HBAI results were sourced from the Family Expenditure Survey (FES), which employed a slightly different definition of income and related to the United Kingdom. FES estimates are also presented for GB, for consistency with the FRS.
	The following table gives the number of children living in relative low income and the number in absolute low income for years that estimates are available from 1979. Absolute low income is defined here as living in a household with income below 60 per cent. of 1996–97 median income held constant in real terms, and relative low income is defined as below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income.
	
		
			  Income below 60 per cent. of 1996–97 median income held constant in real terms Income below 60 per cent. of relative median income 
			  Before housing costs After housing costs Before housing costs After housing costs 
		
		
			 1979(51) 4.6 5.1 1.7 1.9 
			 1981(51) 5.5 5.8 2.4 2.7 
			 1987(51) 3.9 4.4 2.6 3.1 
			 1988–89(51) 3.5 3.9 2.9 3.3 
			 1990–91(51) 3.6 4.3 3.2 3.9 
			 1991–92(51) 3.8 4.4 3.4 4.1 
			 1992–93(51) 3.9 4.6 3.5 4.3 
			 1993–94(51) 3.6 4.4 3.3 4.2 
			 1979(52) 4.4 4.8 1.6 1.8 
			 1981(52) 5.2 5.5 2.2 2.5 
			 1987(52) 3.6 4.2 2.5 3.0 
			 1988–89(52) 3.3 3.6 2.7 3.1 
			 1990–91(52) 3.4 4.0 3.0 3.6 
			 1991–92(52) 3.5 4.2 3.2 3.8 
			 1992–93(52) 3.7 4.4 3.3 4.1 
			 1993–94(52) 3.4 4.2 3.1 4.0 
			 1994–95(53) 3.3 4.3 2.9 4.0 
			 1995–96(53) 3.2 4.4 2.8 4.0 
			 1996–97(53) 3.2 4.2 3.2 4.2 
			 1997–98(53) 3.0 4.0 3.1 4.1 
			 1998–99(53) 2.8 3.9 3.1 4.1 
			 1999–2000(53) 2.4 3.6 3.0 4.1 
			 2000–01(53) 2.0 3.0 2.7 3.8 
			 2001–02(53) 1.6 2.5 2.6 3.7 
			 2002–03(53) 1.5 2.2 2.6 3.6 
			 2003–04(53) 1.4 2.2 2.6 3.5 
		
	
	Sources:
	(51) Family Expenditure Survey (UK).
	(52) Family Expenditure Survey (GB).
	(53) Family Resources Survey (GB).
	The following table gives the proportions of children living in relative low income and the number in absolute low income for years that estimates are available from 1979.
	
		
			  Income below 60 per cent. of 1996–97 median income held constant in real terms Income below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income 
			  Before housing costs After housing costs Before housing costs After housing costs 
		
		
			 1979(54) 34 37 12 14 
			 1981(54) 40 42 18 20 
			 1987(54) 31 36 21 25 
			 1988–89(54) 28 31 23 26 
			 1990–91(54) 29 34 26 31 
			 1991–92(54) 30 35 27 32 
			 1992–93(54) 30 36 27 33 
			 1993–94(54) 27 33 25 32 
			 1979(55) 33 36 12 14 
			 1981(55) 39 42 17 19 
			 1987(55) 31 35 21 25 
			 1988–89(55) 27 30 23 26 
			 1990–91(55) 28 33 25 30 
			 1991–92(55) 29 34 26 31 
			 1992–93(55) 29 35 26 32 
			 1993–94(55) 27 33 25 32 
			 1994–95(56) 26 34 23 31 
			 1995–96(56) 25 35 22 31 
			 1996–97(56) 25 33 25 33 
			 1997–98(56) 24 32 25 32 
			 1998–99(56) 22 31 24 33 
			 1999–2000(56) 19 28 23 32 
			 2000–01(56) 16 23 21 30 
			 2001–02(56) 12 20 21 30 
			 2002–03(56) 12 18 21 28 
			 2003–04(56) 11 17 21 28 
		
	
	Sources:
	(54) Family Expenditure Survey (UK).
	(55) Family Expenditure Survey (GB).
	(56) Family Resources Survey (GB).
	The following table gives the number of pensioners living in relative low income and the number in absolute low income for years that estimates are available from.
	
		
			  Income below 60 per cent. of 1996–97 median income held constant in real terms Income below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income 
			  Before housing costs After housing costs Before housing costs After housing costs 
		
		
			 1979(57) 5.6 5.5 2.5 2.6 
			 1981(57) 5.4 5.3 1.5 1.9 
			 1987(57) 4.2 4.6 2.4 2.7 
			 1988–89(57) 4.3 4.5 3.3 3.8 
			 1990–91(57) 3.9 4.0 3:3 3.6 
			 1991–92(57) 3.4 3.8 2.9 3.3 
			 1992–93(57) 3.0 3.6 2.5 3.0 
			 1993–94(57) 2.5 3.2 2.2 2.8 
			 1979(58) 5.5 5.4 2.4 2.5 
			 1981(58) 5.2 5.1 1.5 1.8 
			 1987(58) 4.1 4.5 2.3 2.6 
			 1988–89(58) 4.2 4.4 3.2 3.8 
			 1990–91(58) 3.8 3.9 3.2 3.5 
			 1991–92(58) 3.3 3.7 2.8 3.2 
			 1992–93(58) 2.9 3.5 2.4 2.9 
			 1993–94(58) 2.5 3.1 2.2 2.7 
			 1994–95(59) 2.5 3.1 2.1 2.7 
			 1995–96(59) 2.5 3.1 2.2 2.6 
			 1996–97(59) 2.2 2.8 2.2 2.8 
			 1997–98(59) 2.2 2.6 2.3 2.7 
			 1998–99(59) 2.1 2.4 2.4 2.7 
			 1999–2000(59) 1.9 2.0 2.3 2.6 
			 2000–01(59) 1.6 1.6 2.2 2.5 
			 2001–02(59) 1.5 1.2 2.3 2.3 
			 2002–03(59) 1.2 1.0 2.3 2.3 
			 2003–04(59) 1.1 0.9 2.2 2.0 
		
	
	Sources:
	(57) Family Expenditure Survey (UK).
	(58) Family Expenditure Survey (GB).
	(59) Family Resources Survey (GB).
	The following table gives the proportions of pensioners living in relative low income and the number in absolute low income for years that estimates are available from.
	
		
			  Income below 60 per cent. of 1996–97 median income held constant in real terms Income below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income 
			  Before housing costs After housing costs Before housing costs After housing costs 
		
		
			 1979(60) 62 60 28 28 
			 1981(60) 57 55 16 20 
			 1987(60) 43 46 24 27 
			 1988–89(60) 44 46 33 39 
			 1990–91(60) 39 40 32 36 
			 1991–92(60) 33 37 28 32 
			 1992–93(60) 29 35 24 29 
			 1993–94(60) 25 31 22 27 
			 1979(61) 62 60 27 28 
			 1981(61) 56 55 16 20 
			 1987(61) 43 46 24 27 
			 1988–89(61) 44 46 33 39 
			 1990–91(61) 38 39 32 36 
			 1991–92(61) 33 36 28 32 
			 1992–93(61) 29 35 24 29 
			 1993–94(61) 25 31 22 28 
			 1994–95(62) 25 31 22 27 
			 1995–96(62) 26 31 22 26 
			 1996–97(62) 22 28 22 28 
			 1997–98(62) 22 26 23 27 
			 1998–99(62) 21 24 24 27 
			 1999–2000(62) 18 20 23 26 
			 2000–01(62) 16 15 22 24 
			 2001–02(62) 14 12 23 23 
			 2002–03(62) 12 10 22 22 
			 2003–04(62) 11 9 21 20 
		
	
	Sources:
	(60) Family Expenditure Survey (UK).
	(61) Family Expenditure Survey (GB).
	(62) Family Resources Survey (GB).
	The following table gives the number of working-age adults living in relative low income and the number in absolute low income for years that estimates are available from.
	
		
			  Income below 60 per cent. of 1996–97 median income held constant in real terms Income below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income 
			  Before housing costs After housing costs Before housing costs After housing costs 
		
		
			 1979(63) 6 6.7 2.3 2.6 
			 1981(63) 7.1 7.7 2.9 3.5 
			 1987(63) 6.4 7.4 4.3 5.3 
			 1988–89(63) 5.8 6.5 4.7 5.5 
			 1990–91(63) 5.6 6.6 4.9 6.0 
			 1991–92(63) 6.0 7.2 5.4 6.5 
			 1992–93(63) 6.0 7.4 5.4 6.7 
			 1993–94(63) 5.5 6.9 5.0 6.5 
			 1979(64) 5.7 6.4 2.2 2.5 
			 1981(64) 6.8 7.3 2.8 3.3 
			 1987(64) 6.1 7.1 4.1 5.1 
			 1988–89(64) 5.5 6.1 4.4 5.2 
			 1990–91(64) 5.4 6.3 4.7 5.7 
			 1991–92(64) 5.7 6.9 5.1 6.2 
			 1992–93(64) 5.8 7.1 5.1 6.5 
			 1993–94(64) 5.2 6.7 4.8 6.3 
			 1994–95(65) 5.3 7.1 4.8 6.5 
			 1995–96(65) 5.0 7.0 4.5 6.4 
			 1996–97(65) 4.9 6.8 4.9 6.8 
			 1997–98(65) 4.6 6.3 4.8 6.4 
			 1998–99(65) 4.3 6.0 4.7 6.3 
			 1999–2000(65) 4.0 5.7 4.8 6.5 
			 2000–01(65) 3.7 5.3 4.7 6.4 
			 2001–02(65) 3.2 4.6 4.6 6.3 
			 2002–03(65) 3.2 4.4 4.8 6.4 
			 2003–04(65) 3.2 4.5 4.8 6.4 
		
	
	Sources:
	(63) Family Expenditure Survey (UK).
	(64) Family Expenditure Survey (GB).
	(65) Family Resources Survey (GB).
	The following table gives the proportions of working-age adults living in relative low income and the number in absolute low income for years that estimates are available from.
	
		
			  Income below 60 per cent. of 1996–97 median income held constant in real terms Income below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income 
			  Before housing costs After housing costs Before housing costs After housing costs 
		
		
			 1979(66) 19 22 7 8 
			 1981(66) 22 24 9 11 
			 1987(66) 19 22 13 16 
			 1988–89(66) 17 19 14 16 
			 1990–91(66) 17 20 15 18 
			 1991–92(66) 18 21 16 19 
			 1992–93(66) 18 22 16 20 
			 1993–94(66) 16 20 15 19 
			 1979(67) 19 21 7 8 
			 1981(67) 22 24 9 11 
			 1987(67) 19 22 13 16 
			 1988–89(67) 17 19 14 16 
			 1990–91(67) 16 19 14 17 
			 1991–92(67) 17 21 15 19 
			 1992–93(67) 17 21 16 20 
			 1993–94(67) 16 20 15 19 
			 1994–95(68) 16 22 14 20 
			 1995–96(68) 15 21 14 19 
			 1996–97(68) 15 21 15 21 
			 1997–98(68) 14 19 15 19 
			 1998–99(68) 13 18 14 19 
			 1999–2000(68) 12 17 14 20 
			 2000–01(68) 11 16 14 19 
			 2001–02(68) 10 14 14 19 
			 2002–03(68) 9 13 14 19 
			 2003–04(68) 9 13 14 19 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Tables show numbers in millions rounded to the nearest 100,000 and percentages rounded to the nearest percentage point.
	2. The reference period for FRS figures is single financial years.
	3. FES figures are single calendar years from 1979–87, two combined calendar years from 1988–89 to 1992–93 and two financial years combined for 1993–94.
	Sources:
	(66) Family Expenditure Survey (UK).
	(67) Family Expenditure Survey (GB).
	(68) Family Resources Survey (GB).
	Further information showing the proportion and number of individuals living in low income households, including annual levels, can be found in the publication "Households Below Average Income 1994/95–2003/04". This also reports statistics between 1979 and 1995–96, using the data source and income definitions previously employed for the 'Households Below Average Income' series.

Rachel Scully

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the retirement pension forecast team has been able to supply Rachel Scully, a constituent of the right hon. Member for Birkenhead, with a forecast of her pension which takes into account (a) her underlying entitlement to carer's allowance and (b) the awarding of credits for her second state pension.

Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 16 November 2005, Official Report, column 1257W.

Community Right to Buy

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to introduce a community right to buy; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's discussion document, "Citizen Engagement and Public Services: Why Neighbourhoods Matter" (January 2005), invited a debate about whether the idea of a community right to buy should be pursued, and the debate is ongoing.

Fire Service

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 7 November 2005, Official Report, column 180W, on the fire service (West Midlands), what the average response time was in England in each year.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The available information covers attendance at primary fires. The following table shows the average response time to primary fires attended by all Fire and Rescue Services in England each month during 2004–05. (Monthly data was requested and provided for the previous question on West Midlands). This is measured in minutes from time of first call to the fire and rescue service to time of arrival at the scene.
	
		Primary fires attended in England: Average response times 2004–05
		
			 Month Response time (minutes) 
		
		
			 April 6.6 
			 May 6.6 
			 June 6.8 
			 July 6.9 
			 August 7.0 
			 September 6.9 
			 October 6.8 
			 November 6.8 
			 December 6.8 
			 January 6.9 
			 February 7.1 
			 March 7.0 
			 2004–05 6.9 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures for 2004–05 are provisional.
	2. Data excludes late calls, heat and smoke damage only incidents.
	Source:
	Fire & Rescue Service FDR1 returns to ODPM.

Homeless

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) homeless children and (b) homeless households with children were in temporary accommodation in each (i) year and (ii) quarter since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: Information reported quarterly by local authorities includes the number of households in temporary accommodation on the last day of the quarter, as arranged by the local authority under homelessness legislation. The number of these households which include dependent children or a pregnant woman has been reported since March 2002, and the number of children or expected children in these households has been reported since June 2004. Available information is summarised in the following table.
	In January 2005 the Government announced in "Homes for All" their commitment to halve the number of all households in temporary accommodation by 2010.
	
		Households with dependent(70) children in temporary accommodation(71)as arranged by local authorities under homelessness legislation, and the number of children(70), on the last day of each quarter: England
		
			  Households with children or a pregnant woman  Number of children/expected children 
		
		
			 2002   
			 31 March 54,660 n/a 
			 30 June 58,870 n/a 
			 30 September 61,740 n/a 
			 31 December 60,310 n/a 
			
			 2003   
			 31 March 61,510 n/a 
			 30 June 65,040 n/a 
			 30 September 67,260 n/a 
			 31 December 67,540 n/a 
			
			 2004   
			 31 March 70,580 n/a 
			 30 June(72) 71,640 121,590 
			 30 September(72) 72,510 122,530 
			 31 December(72) 72,800 124,630 
			
			 2005   
			 31 March(72) 72,670 125,860 
			 30 June(72) 72,810 124,900 
		
	
	n/a = Denotes data not collected.
	(70) Includes households where an expectant mother is present.
	(71) Households in temporary accommodation arranged by local authorities pending enquiries or after being accepted as homeless under the 1996 Act.
	(72) Provisional data.
	Notes:
	1. Data on households containing dependent children has been collected from March 2002.
	2. Data on children in temporary accommodation has been collected from June 2004.
	Source:
	ODPM P1E Homelessness returns (quarterly).

Housing

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of social rented housing in each Government office region in each year since 1990 has been (a) bedsit, (b) one-bedroom, (c) two-bedroom, (d) three-bedroom and (e) four-bedroom or more.

Yvette Cooper: The breakdown requested is not available for all years. The information requested is tabled as follows.
	
		Distribution of social stock for Government office regions by size by year Percentage
		
			  Bedsits and one-bedroom Two- bedroom Three-bedroom and over 
		
		
			 1998
			 North East 23.4 36.9 39.7 
			 North West 28.3 30.1 41.6 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 28.4 33.4 38.2 
			 East Midlands 27.3 31.0 41.8 
			 West Midlands 27.1 31.3 41.7 
			 East 29.1 30.8 40.1 
			 London 35.5 34.8 29.7 
			 South East 31.5 30.9 37.7 
			 South West 29.1 34.1 36.8 
			 
			 1999
			 North East 23.6 36.9 39.5 
			 North West 28.5 30.3 41.2 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 28.5 33.5 37.9 
			 East Midlands 27.5 31.2 41.3 
			 West Midlands 27.6 31.3 41.1 
			 East 29.3 30.9 39.8 
			 London 35.6 34.7 29.7 
			 South East 31.5 31.1 37.4 
			 South West 29.2 34.4 36.5 
			 
			 2000
			 North East 23.8 37.0 39.3 
			 North West 28.5 30.5 41.1 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 28.7 33.8 37.6 
			 East Midlands 27.6 31.6 40.8 
			 West Midlands 27.6 31.8 40.6 
			 East 29.7 31.1 39.2 
			 London 35.7 34.6 29.6 
			 South East 31.8 31.2 36.9 
			 South West 29.6 34.5 35.9 
			 
			 2001
			 North East 24.4 36.8 38.8 
			 North West 28.4 30.3 41.3 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 28.9 33.9 37.2 
			 East Midlands 28.0 31.8 40.2 
			 West Midlands 27.9 32.0 40.1 
			 East 29.8 31.4 38.8 
			 London 35.6 34.7 29.6 
			 South East 32.0 31.4 36.6 
			 South West 29.7 34.8 35.4 
			 
			 2002
			 North East 24.1 37.4 38.5 
			 North West 28.6 30.4 41.0 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 29.2 34.0 36.8 
			 East Midlands 28.3 32.2 39.5 
			 West Midlands 28.2 32.1 39.7 
			 East 30.1 31.5 38.4 
			 London 35.6 34.8 29.6 
			 South East 32.1 31.5 36.4 
			 South West 30.0 35.0 35.0 
			 
			 2003
			 North East 24.6 37.5 37.9 
			 North West 28.6 30.7 40.8 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 29.7 34.2 36.2 
			 East Midlands 28.7 32.5 38.8 
			 West Midlands 28.5 32.3 39.2 
			 East 30.1 31.9 38.0 
			 London 35.7 34.7 29.6 
			 South East 32.2 31.7 36.1 
			 South West 30.1 35.2 34.7 
		
	
	
		
			  Bedsit One-bedroom Two-bedroom Three-bedroom Four-bedroom and over 
		
		
			 2004  
			 North East 1.8 24.0 37.4 34.6 2.3 
			 North West 2.0 27.2 31.3 36.5 3.0 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 1.9 28.2 34.6 32.9 2.4 
			 East Midlands 2.2 26.9 32.7 36.1 2.1 
			 West Midlands 1.8 27.0 32.6 36.1 2.5 
			 East 3.3 27.0 31.4 35.7 2.5 
			 London 4.9 30.8 34.7 24.9 4.7 
			 South East 4.5 28.1 31.8 33.3 2.3 
			 South West 2.1 28.3 35.1 32.5 1.9 
			   
			 2005  
			 North East 1.6 22.2 38.4 35.5 2.3 
			 North West 1.5 23.6 32.4 39.2 3.2 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 1.5 26.7 35.2 34.1 2.6 
			 East Midlands 1.9 25.1 33.1 37.7 2.1 
			 West Midlands 1.6 24.1 35.3 36.1 2.9 
			 East 3.0 24.0 32.0 38.3 2.7 
			 London 4.5 29.7 35.4 25.5 4.8 
			 South East 3.4 24.7 33.5 35.9 2.5 
			 South West 1.8 22.9 37.1 36.0 2.1 
		
	
	Note:
	Numbers may not add to 100 due to rounding
	Sources:
	The Regulatory Statistical Return of the Housing Corporation and the HAR/10
	The unaudited Second Subsidy Claim form from local authorities
	Not all local authorities filled in returns for all years.

Pathfinder

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate the Government have made of the average price of a property facing demolition in the Pathfinder areas.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to my previous answer given on the 17 October 2005, Official Report, column 814W.

Planning

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what were the (a) average, (b) longest and (c) shortest times taken by the Government Office South West (i) to determine whether a planning application referred to it by a local authority required full consideration and (ii) to announce its final decision where a full inquiry was required in each of the last six years.

Yvette Cooper: The information is set out in the following tables 1 and 2. Table 1 includes the percentage of decisions on whether referred cases should be called in for determination by the First Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister completed within the statutory 21 day period. This indicates that in every year the average case has been dealt with in less than three weeks.
	
		Table 1: determination of whether to call-in referred application
		
			  Total number of referrals Longest time to reach decision (weeks) Shortest time to reach decision (days) Percentage decided in 21 days 
		
		
			 2000 151 60 2 88 
			 2001 149 41 3 83 
			 2002 144 39 2 79 
			 2003 174 46 4 77 
			 2004 159 41 2 81 
			 2005(73) 93 32 2 85 
		
	
	(73) To date.
	
		Table 2: determination of called-in applications Weeks
		
			  Longest time from call-in to decision Shortest time from call-in to decision Average time from call-in to decision 
		
		
			 2000 74 39 51 
			 2001 51 32 40 
			 2002 47 42 45 
			 2003 72 40 50 
			 2004 50 38 44 
			 2005(74) 72 55 63 
		
	
	(74) To date.

Planning

Peter Law: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to establish a centralised mechanism to collect data on the number of planning permissions granted for housing development on green belt land.

Yvette Cooper: A centralised national database of planning permissions granted or refused by each local planning authority is maintained on a quarterly basis. Aggregate statistics on permissions for housing development are collected but not details of individual applications or their location in each authority, including on green belt land. A special inquiry to local authorities to provide such detail would be an extra burden on them and could not be justified. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently exploring other ways of obtaining information more efficiently through "e-planning" initiatives.

Care Homes

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the timetable is for acting on those recommendations in the Office of Fair Trading Care Homes Study with which she has agreed;
	(2)  for what reasons she took a different view from that expressed by the Commission for Social Care Inspection on the Office of Fair Trading's Care Homes study.

Liam Byrne: The Office of Fair Trading's (OFT) report on care homes for older people in the United Kingdom made a number of specific recommendations for central government, the devolved administrations, the regulators, including the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), local councils and care homes. The Government's action plan published on 17 August covers all the recommendations that the OFT directed at central government in England. As the independent inspectorate for all social care services in England, the CSCI responded separately to the OFT report and addressed the specific recommendations directed at them.
	The Government's action plan included the timetable for the intended actions. The plan stated that some issues would be considered in the context of next steps on "Independence, Well-being and Choice", which will be set out in the forthcoming White Paper planned to be published at the turn of the year. The Government also committed to consider through the review of the national minimum standards (NMS) and associated regulations the most effective way to address other issues. It intends to issue revised NMS and regulations for consultation in spring 2006, with the intention of implementing changes from April 2007.

Departmental Estate

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken in the context of assessment of the environmental impact of her Department to provide a clear description of her Department's estate, including executive agencies, staff numbers, buildings and land management.

Caroline Flint: I understand that this question relates to BREEAM (British Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) and sustainable development.
	The Department reports annually on its progress against the targets contained in the "Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate". The data for 2004–05 is currently being analysed by independent consultants. It will shortly be published, with a commentary by the Sustainable Development Commission, on the Government's sustainable development website at www.sustainable-development.gov.uk. The data for 2003–04 is currently available on the website.

Early Lessons from Payment by Results

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action she is taking following the publication of the report by the Audit Commission entitled "Early Lessons From Payment By Results".

Liam Byrne: holding answer 7 November 2005
	The Audit Commission's report, "Early Lessons from Payment by Results" (October 2005), provides useful insight into the experience of those national health service organisations at the forefront of implementing payment by results. Many of the key recommendations from the report are either already being implemented or are being taken forward for subsequent years.
	For example, the Department has consulted on a draft code of conduct, which aims to establish clear expectations on how organisations will conduct business under payment by results and the Department will be finalising the code of conduct for next year.
	In addition, the Department is working with the Audit Commission to develop an assurance framework for payment by results, which will focus on improving data quality and assuring the appropriateness of payments. Tariff changes for 2006–07 will be announced in due course.

GPs (Lancashire)

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GPs per head of population there have been in (a) Ribble Valley and (b) Lancashire in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 16 November 2005
	The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		General medical practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars)(77) per 100,000 head of population, by Government office region, strategic health authority and primary care trust, 1997–2004—England Headcount
		
			   1997 1998 
			   All Practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars)(77) Population All Practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars)(77) per100,000 head of population All Practitioners excluding retainers and registrars)(77) Population All Practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars)(77) per100,000 head of population 
		
		
			 Q13 Cumbria and Lancashire 1,086 1,899,842 57.2 1,109 1,901,721 58.3 
			 5CC Blackburn with Darwen PCT (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— 
			 5HP Blackpool PCT (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— 
			 5G8 Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale PCT (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— 
			 504 Carlisle and District PCT (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— 
			 5F2 Chorley and South Ribble PCT (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— 
			 5D5 Eden Valley PCT (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— 
			 SHE Fylde PCT (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— 
			 5G7 Hyndburn and Ribble Valley PCT (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— 
			 500 Morecambe Bay PCT (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— 
			 5HD Preston PCT (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— 
			 5D6 West Cumbria PCT (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— 
			 5F3 West Lancashire PCT (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— 
			 5HF Wyre PCT (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— 
		
	
	
		Headcount
		
			   1999 2000 
			   All Practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars)(77) Population All Practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars)(77) per100,000 head of population All Practitioners excluding retainers and registrars)(77) Population All Practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars)(77) per100,000 head of population 
		
		
			 Q13 Cumbria and Lancashire 1,106 1,899,003 58.2 1,105 1,901,743 58.1 
			 5CC Blackburn with Darwen PCT (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— 
			 5HP Blackpool PCT (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— 
			 5G8 Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale PCT (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— 
			 504 Carlisle and District PCT (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— 
			 5F2 Chorley and South Ribble PCT (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— 
			 5D5 Eden Valley PCT (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— 
			 SHE Fylde PCT (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— 
			 5G7 Hyndburn and Ribble Valley PCT (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— 
			 500 Morecambe Bay PCT (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— 
			 5HD Preston PCT (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— 
			 5D6 West Cumbria PCT (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— 
			 5F3 West Lancashire PCT (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— 
			 5HF Wyre PCT (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— (78)— 
		
	
	
		Headcount
		
			   2001 2002 
			   All Practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars)(77) Population All Practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars)(77) per100,000 head of population All Practitioners excluding retainers and registrars)(77) Population All Practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars)(77) per100,000 head of population 
		
		
			 Q13 Cumbria and Lancashire 1,118 1,905,060 58.7 1,145 1,910,378 59.9 
			 5CC Blackburn with Darwen PCT 79 138,453 57.1 91 139,302 65.3 
			 5HP Blackpool PCT 81 142,270 56.9 80 142,177 56.3 
			 5G8 Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale PCT 136 244,445 55.6 129 243,889 52.9 
			 504 Carlisle and District PCT 71 114,092 62.2 72 114,454 62.9 
			 5F2 Chorley and South Ribble PCT 112 204,508 54.8 113 205,756 54.9 
			 5D5 Eden Valley PCT 69,167 75.2 56 69,755 80.3 54 
			 SHE Fylde PCT 39 73,340 53.2 37 74,164 49.9 
			 5G7 Hyndburn and Ribble Valley PCT 71 124,709 56.9 64 125,498 51.0 
			 500 Morecambe Bay PCT 195 308:406 63.2 199 308,184 64.6 
			 5HD Preston PCT 71 141,211 50.3 85 141,389 60.1 
			 5D6 West Cumbria PCT 89 130,179 68.4 91 130,043 70.0 
			 5F3 West Lancashire PCT 58 108,480 53.5 61 108,718 56.1 
			 5HF Wyre PCT 64 105,800 60.5 67 107,049 62.6 
		
	
	
		Headcount
		
			   2003 2004 
			   All Practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars)(77) Population All Practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars)(77) per100,000 head of population All Practitioners excluding retainers and registrars)(77) Population(79) All Practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars)(77) per100,000 head of population 
		
		
			 Q13 Cumbria and Lancashire 1,169 1,919,041 60.9 1,168 1,929,653 60.5 
			 5CC Blackburn with Darwen PCT 91 139,804 65.1 87 (78)— (78)— 
			 5HP Blackpool PCT 82 142,429 57.6 81 (78)— (78)— 
			 5G8 Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale PCT 133 243,755 54.6 134 (78)— (78)— 
			 504 Carlisle and District PCT 74 115,331 64.2 75 (78)— (78)— 
			 5F2 Chorley and South Ribble PCT 113 207,072 54.6 119 (78)— (78)— 
			 5D5 Eden Valley PCT 54 70,550 76.5 56 (78)— (78)— 
			 SHE Fylde PCT 39 75,026 52.0 40 (78)— (78)— 
			 5G7 Hyndburn and Ribble Valley PCT 68 126,613 53.7 64 (78)— (78)— 
			 500 Morecambe Bay PCT 210 308,746 68.0 213 (78)— (78)— 
			 5HD Preston PCT 85 141,446 60.1 86 (78)— (78)— 
			 5D6 West Cumbria PCT 90 130,973 68.7 90 (78)— (78)— 
			 5F3 West Lancashire PCT 61 108,994 56.0 60 (78)— (78)— 
			 5HF Wyre PCT 69 108,302 63.7 63 (78)— (78)— 
		
	
	(77) General medical practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars) includes contracted GPs, QMS others and PMS others. Prior to September 2004 this group included QMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs, PMS salaried GPs, restricted principals, assistants, salaried doctors (Para 52 SFA), PMS other, flexible career scheme GPs and GP returners.
	(78) Data not applicable.
	(79) Population data for 2004 PCTs will not be available until November 2005.
	Note:
	Data as at 1 October 1997–99 and 30 September 2000–04.
	Source:
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre General and Personal Medical Services Statistics 2001 ONS Population Census

Influenza

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what discussions she has had with the Welsh Assembly Government on dealing with an influenza pandemic in Wales; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions she has had with her National Assembly for Wales Government counterpart on cross-border issues arising from contingency planning for an influenza pandemic.

Caroline Flint: Discussions have not taken place with Welsh colleagues at ministerial level although we have worked closely with Welsh Assembly Government officials in the development of the "UK Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan" that provides the framework for the overall response to a pandemic.
	We also maintain a continuing dialogue with Assembly officials directly and through other channels such as the Cabinet Office working group on operational arrangements and guidance for the public and health professionals.

Mental Health

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the £1 billion allocation to mental health services has been directed to mental health services for (a) child and adolescent mental health services and (b) services of those over 60 years of age.

Liam Byrne: The additional investment amounting to £1 billion since the publication of the national service framework for mental health was spent by national health service trusts on mental health services for adults of working age. There has also been additional investment on mental health services for other ages, details of which are shown in the report of the "2004–05 National Survey of Investment in Mental Health Services" which is available on the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/11/52/96/04115296.pdf.

NHS Ambulance Trusts

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on her plans to re-structure NHS ambulance trusts.

Liam Byrne: The Department published the outcome of a strategic review of the national health service ambulance services on 30 June 2005, "Taking Healthcare to the Patient: Transforming NHS Ambulance Services". The review, led by the national ambulance adviser, supported by a group of stakeholders, sets out how ambulance services can be transformed from a service focusing primarily on resuscitation, trauma and acute care towards becoming a mobile health resource for the whole NHS—taking healthcare to the patient in the community.
	The review will realise a range of benefits for patients; and staff including:
	Patients will receive improved care, consistently receiving the right response, first time, in time.
	More patients treated in the community, and potentially 1 million fewer unnecessary accident and emergency attendances
	Greater job satisfaction for staff as they use additional knowledge and skills to care for patients
	More effective and efficient use of NHS resources
	Improvements in self care and health promotion.
	In order to realise the vision and the benefits of "Taking Healthcare to the Patient-Transforming NHS Ambulance Services", ambulance trusts need to be of a size that enables appropriate investment in people and resources to underpin current and future services and enable the vision set out in the ambulance review to be delivered. We are therefore proposing that there should be fewer, bigger ambulance trusts and will be undertaking public consultation on these proposals this winter. These proposals will ensure resources are targeted to where they are most needed—improving patient care and supporting front-line services. A three-month statutory consultation on the reconfiguration of ambulance trusts is expected to commence early next month.

NHS Expenditure

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the spending on the national health service in England (a) in cash terms, (b) adjusted for retail price inflation and (c) adjusted for inflation in NHS costs has been in each year since 1975.

Liam Byrne: The required run of national health service expenditure figures is shown in the table.
	
		NHS total net expenditure: England—1975–76 to 2004–05 (2004–05 prices) £ billion
		
			   Net NHS expenditure actual(80) Net NHS expenditure 2004–05 prices Net NHS expenditure adjusted by HCHS pay and price inflation 
		
		
			 Cash(81) 
			 1975–76 Outturn 4.413 23.401 22.783 
			 1976–77 Outturn 5.032 23.529 23.448 
			 1977–78 Outturn 5.555 22.862 23.918 
			 1978–79 Outturn 6.273 23.258 23.556 
			 1979–80 Outturn 7.447 23.635 22.914 
			 1980–81 Outturn 9.700 26.051 24.051 
			 1981–82 Outturn 10.854 26.617 26.941 
			 1982–83 Outturn 11.819 27.070 27.214 
			 1983–84 Outturn 12.494 27.359 27.227 
			 1984–85 Outturn 13.407 27.899 27.749 
			 1985–86 Outturn 14.176 27.984 28.121 
			 1986–87 Outturn 15.173 29.028 27.993 
			 1987–88 Outturn 16.668 30.206 29.390 
			 1988–89 Outturn 18.420 31.198 30.181 
			 1989–90 Outturn 19.855 31.395 31.635 
			 1990–91 Outturn 22.326 32.740 32.476 
			 1991–92 Outturn 25.353 35.063 33.769 
			 1992–93 Outturn 27.968 37.488 36.182 
			 1993–94 Outturn 28.942 37.827 37.517 
			 1994–95 Outturn 30.590 39.376 38.967 
			 1995–96 Outturn 31.985 40.048 39.703 
			 1996–97 Outturn 32.997 39.906 40.151 
			 1997–98 Outturn 34.664 40.718 41.059 
			 1998–99 Outturn 36.608 41.914 41.387 
			 1999–2000 Outturn 39.881 44.780 43.648 
			  
			 RB stage one(82)   
			 1999–2000 Outturn 40.201 45.139 — 
			 2000–01 Outturn 43.932 48.691 47.396 
			 2001–02 Outturn 49.021 53.022 51.856 
			 2002–03 Outturn 54.042 56.653 56.256 
			  
			 RB stage two(83)(84)   
			 2003–04 Outturn 63.001 64.339 — 
			 2004–05 Outturn 69.710 69.710 69.486 
		
	
	(80) Figures are not consistent over the period (1971–72 to 2004–05), hence no comparisons should be made across different periods.
	(81) Expenditure pre 1999–2000 is on a cash basis.
	(82) Expenditure figures from 1999–2000 to 2002–03 are on a stage one resource budgeting basis.
	(83) Expenditure figures from 2003–04 to 2004–05 are on a stage two resource budgeting basis.
	(84) The resource budgeting stage two actual net expenditure figures shown for 2003–04 to 2004–05 are consistent with the 2005 departmental report.
	Notes:
	1. Table is based on 2004–05 prices using the gross domestic product deflator series as at 28 September 2005.
	2. Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS) pay and price inflation is a weighted average of two separate inflation indices, the pay cost index (PCI) and the health service cost index (HSCI). Up to and including 1984–85, pay inflation was calculated using the pay settlements. From 1985–86 the PCI measures pay inflation in the HCHS. The PCI is itself a weighted average of increases in unit staff costs for each of the staff groups within the HCHS sector. Pay cost inflation tends to be higher than pay settlement inflation, because of an element of pay drift within each staff group. Pay drift is the tendency for there to be a gradual shift up the incremental scales, and is additional to settlement inflation.
	3. The HSCI is calculated monthly to measure the price change for each of 41 sub-indices of goods and services purchased by the HCHS. The sub-indices are weighted together according to the proportion of total expenditure which they represent to give the overall HSCI value. The pay cost index and the health service cost index are weighted together according to the proportion of HCHS expenditure on each. This provides an HCHS combined pay and prices inflation figure.

Nurses

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses per 100 beds there have been in (a) England and (b) the West Suffolk hospital in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		NHS hospital and community health services: Qualified Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting Staff in England and West Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust as at 30 September Headcount
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 England 
			 Qualified nurses 300,467 304,563 310,142 316,752 330,535 346,537 364,692 375,371 
			 Number of beds 193,625 190,006 186,290 186,091 184,871 183,826 184,207 181,772 
			 Nurses per 100 beds 155 160 166 170 179 189 198 207 
			  
			 RGR—West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust 
			 Qualified nurses 688 612 719 728 832 860 1,001 1,013 
			 Number of beds 713 673 664 687 679 638 676 631 
			 Nurses per 100 beds 96 91 108 106 123 135 148 161 
		
	
	Note:
	Nurses per 100 bed figures are rounded to the nearest whole number.
	Source:
	Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census Department of Health form KH03

Obesity

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent by her Department on advertising the effects obesity has on causing (a) hypertension, (b) diabetes and (c) cardiovascular disease in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Caroline Flint: The message that obesity is a major contributor to coronary heart disease, stroke and type two diabetes, is highlighted in the Chief Medical Officer's report "At least Five a Week" and "Choosing Health", the White Paper. Both reports emphasise the importance of healthy eating and participating in regular physical activity in order to remain healthy.
	Reducing obesity is one of the six overarching priorities in the White Paper, which sets out a comprehensive plan of action including curbs on marketing. Current action to tackle obesity includes further restrictions on food promotion to children, the reform of the welfare food scheme into healthy start, the healthy schools programme, the 5 A DAY programme and the school fruit and vegetable scheme.

Obesity

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to tackle obesity in (a) children and (b) adults.

Caroline Flint: Reducing obesity is one of the six overarching priorities of the "Choosing Health" White Paper, published in November 2004. In July 2004, the Government set a public service agreement (PSA) target to halt the year-on-year increase in obesity among children under 11 by 2010 in the context of a broader strategy to tackle obesity in the population as a whole.
	The White Paper delivery plan, Delivering "Choosing Health: making healthier choices easier", together with discrete plans focusing on nutrition, "Choosing a Better Diet a food and health action plan" and physical activity, Choosing Activity: a physical activity action plan" published in March 2005 set out how the White Paper commitments will be delivered and how they will contribute to delivery of the obesity target.
	Specific action will include:
	Campaigns—to raise awareness;
	Labelling—including better signposting of food;
	Food Promotion-restrictions on marketing of unhealthy food to children;
	Work with Industry—to encourage more healthy processed foods;
	Children and young people—including action on school and physical activity; and
	Action in the national health service—more effective practical action to manage, prevent and treat obesity.

School Nurses

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate her Department has made of the optimum number of school nurses in England;
	(2)  how many school nurses are practising;
	(3)  how many school nurses work (a) part time and (b) full time;
	(4)  in how many schools on average each (a) full-time and (b) part-time school nurse practises;
	(5)  how many school nurses have been in practice in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: The majority of school nurses are currently employed and managed by the local national health service primary care trust (PCT). They were counted fully for the first time in the September 2004 NHS workforce census, which showed that there were 2,409 qualified nurses working in school nursing, of whom 856 were qualified school nurses. The next count will be available from the September 2005 census. Information on numbers of school nurses employed in the NHS working part time and full time is shown in the table.
	We are providing new funding so that by 2010 every PCT, working with children's trusts and local authorities, will be resourced to have at least one full-time, year-round, qualified school nurse working with each cluster or group of primary schools and the related secondary school, taking account of health needs and school populations.
	Information is not collected centrally on the number of schools in which each school nurse practises.
	
		NHS hospital and community health services: qualified nurses working in school nursing by nature of contract in England by headcount as at 30 September 2004 headcount
		
			  Total Full time Part time Bank 
		
		
			 Qualified nurses working in  school nursing 2,409 313 2,058 38 
			 of which Qualified school nurses 856 151 695 10 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census 2004

Smoking

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what model was used to determine the costs and benefits of options one to four for banning smoking in enclosed public places contained within the partial regulatory impact assessment on the smoke free aspect of the Health Bill.

Caroline Flint: Paragraph 28 of the partial regulatory impact assessment sets out details of the methodology followed for assessing the costs and benefits, which are discussed in more detail in the published economic paper, "Smoke free public places-a report to the Chief Medical Officer" is available on the Department's of Health at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/asset/Root/04/10/27/66/04102766.pdf.
	A copy of the paper is available in the Library.

Anti-terrorism Legislation

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been (a) detained and (b) arrested under powers in anti-terrorism legislation and subsequently (i) released without charge or (ii) not charged with an offence relating to terrorism in (A) each of the five years up to the end of 2004 and (B) in the first nine months of this year.

Charles Clarke: Section 45(4) of the Terrorism Act 2000 confers the power to detain a person only for the amount of time reasonably required to conduct a search authorised by virtue of section 44 of the Act. Records for stops and searches carried out under these powers and subsequent arrests under anti-terrorism legislation are shown in the following table.
	No information is collated centrally on the charges arising from these particular arrests subsequent to the use of stop and search powers.
	Total stops and searches under section 44 for the financial year 2004–05 will be published in December this year. Data for the financial year 2005–06 will be published in December 2006.
	Detention under anti-terrorism legislation is also provided for following an arrest under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000. Figures available show that between 11 September 2001 and 30 September 2005, 895 people were arrested under this power. Of these, 138 were charged with offences under the Terrorism Act. The remainder were either released without charge or dealt with under other legislation.
	
		
			  Stops and searches Arrests 
		
		
			 1999–2000 (85)1,900 1 
			 2000–01 (86)6,400 1 
			 2001–02 (87)10,200 20 
			 2002–03 (87)32,100 18 
			 2003–04 (87)33,800 19 
		
	
	(85) Conducted under sections 13A and 13B of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989, which preceded powers under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
	(86) Conducted under 13A and 13B of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989, and section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
	(87) Under section 44.

Crime

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people convicted of crimes in Hertfordshire received a non-custodial sentence in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) ethnicity and (b) offence for which they were convicted.

Hazel Blears: Information taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings database on the number of people convicted for crimes who received a non-custodial sentence, by offence type, in Hertfordshire, 1997 to 2003 is in the table. Court statistics for 2004 will be available in late November.
	Information on sentencing and ethnicity is also taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings database. The information for Hertfordshire has not been published centrally in the past due to the high number of persons whose ethnic appearance is classified as 'unknown'. However, some breakdown on ethnicity for Hertfordshire is scheduled to be published in 2004 statistics, which will be available from February 2006.
	
		Number of offenders found guilty at all courts by offence type and sentenced to a non custodial sentence in Hertfordshire police force area, 1997 to 2003(88)
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 
			 Offence type Found guilty Non-custodial sentence Found guilty Non-custodial sentence Found guilty Non-custodial sentence Found guilty Non-custodial sentence 
		
		
			 Violence against the person 367 240 368 237 393 256 467 305 
			 Sexual offences 70 24 51 17 49 22 63 21 
			 Burglary 286 150 224 126 254 139 255 125 
			 Robbery 77 18 42 9 63 10 57 16 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 1,179 995 1,165 975 1,315 1,121 1,482 1,236 
			 Fraud and Forgery 181 133 272 208 263 190 348 270 
			 Criminal damage 31 23 45 25 40 28 37 32 
			 Drug offences 469 406 433 369 447 379 421 354 
			 Other indictable offences 376 296 354 290 426 342 420 343 
			 Indictable motoring offences 90 73 85 70 67 53 81 61 
			 Summary offences (exc. motoring) 7,047 6,952 7,781 7,692 7,290 7,180 8,113 7,994 
			 Summary motoring offences 8,727 8,557 9,913 9,771 10,016 9,858 9,097 8,896 
			 Total 18,900 17,867 20,733 19,789 20,623 19,578 20,841 19,653 
		
	
	
		
			  2001 2002 2003 
			 Offence type Found guilty Non-custodial sentence Found guilty Non-custodial sentence Found guilty Non-custodial sentence 
		
		
			 Violence against the person 456 278 539 328 507 355 
			 Sexual offences 55 12 70 20 52 17 
			 Burglary 226 108 314 169 313 160 
			 Robbery 89 19 113 17 110 17 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 1,482 1,184 1,558 1,248 1,671 1,361 
			 Fraud and Forgery 250 203 280 215 297 249 
			 Criminal damage 41 22 32 30 60 54 
			 Drug offences 462 385 481 405 545 474 
			 Other indictable offences 477 387 450 370 610 481 
			 Indictable motoring offences 80 63 94 68 128 93 
			 Summary offences (exc. motoring) 7,661 7,562 6,668 6,563 8,419 8,310 
			 Summary motoring offences 8,808 8,603 10,198 10,021 11,773 11,601 
			 Total 20,087 18,826 20,797 19,454 24,485 23,172 
		
	
	(88) These data are basis on the principal offence basis

Crime

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) levels of and (b) detection rates were for (i) violent crime, (ii) car crime, (iii) sexual crime, (iv) burglary and (v) robbery in West Lancashire constituency in the last year for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: The available information relates to the number of offences recorded and the detection rates in the Lancashire Western Basic Command Unit (BCU) and is given in the table.
	The introduction of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 in May 2004 resulted in substantial changes to the sexual offences. In particular, the redefining of the offences of exposure into the sexual offences group resulted in substantial increases in this category nationally.
	
		Recorded crimes and detection rates in the Lancashire Western Basic Command Unit 2004–05
		
			 Offence type Number of offences Detection rate (percentage) 
		
		
			 Violence against the person 6,661 58 
			
			 Sexual offences(89) 328 38 
			
			 Robbery 251 46 
			
			 Violent crime 7,240 57 
			
			 Domestic Burglary 1,153 25 
			
			 Theft of a motor vehicle 787 26 
			 Theft from a vehicle 1,527 14 
			
			 Vehicle crime 2,314 18 
		
	
	(89) The Sexual Offences Act 2003, introduced in May 2004, altered the definition and coverage of sexual offences.

Electronic Tagging

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in Milton Keynes who were tagged on early release from prison breached the rules governing their early release in each of the last five years.

Fiona Mactaggart: The number of prisoners who were released on the Home Detention Curfew scheme (HOC) from Her Majesty's Prison Woodhill who breached the rules governing their early release for each of the last five years is provided in the table. The area in which electronically tagged prisoners reside upon release is not recorded centrally.
	
		Prisoners released on the HOC scheme from HMP Woodhill and those who were recalled, by year of release
		
			  Discharged Recalled(90) 
		
		
			 2000 94 2 
			 2001 38 2 
			 2002 92 5 
			 2003 204 25 
			 2004 167 25 
		
	
	(90) Some recalls from HOC are due to the curfewee no longer being able to be monitored through no fault of their own. For example where he or she loses accommodation through no fault of their own.

Fireworks

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been for (a) breaking of the curfew for the use of category 3 and above fireworks and (b) the unlawful possession of category 4 fireworks since the Fireworks Regulations 2004 came into force, broken down by police force.

Hazel Blears: Fireworks Regulations 2004 came into force on 7 August 2004 and 1 January 2005, making permanent the Fireworks Regulations 2003 (Emergency Regulations).
	Court statistics for 2004 will be available in late November and 2005 data will be available in autumn 2006.
	Offences under the Fireworks Regulations 2004 (made under section 11 of the Fireworks Act 2003) for breach of the national fireworks curfew and the illegal possession of category 4 fireworks can also attract penalty notices for disorder. The numbers of penalty notices issued by police force area are provided in the following table.
	
		Number of penalty notices for disorder issued for possession of a category 4 firework(91)by police force area, 2004 and 2005(92)
		
			 Police force area 2004 2005 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset — — 
			 Bedfordshire — — 
			 Cambridgeshire — — 
			 Cheshire — — 
			 Cleveland — — 
			 Cumbria — — 
			 Derbyshire — — 
			 Devon and Cornwall — — 
			 Dorset — — 
			 Durham — — 
			 Cumbria — — 
			 Essex 1 — 
			 Gloucestershire — — 
			 Greater Manchester 4 — 
			 Hampshire — 1 
			 Hertfordshire — — 
			 Humberside — — 
			 Kent — 1 
			 Lancashire — 1 
			 Leicestershire — — 
			 Lincolnshire — — 
			 London, City of — — 
			 Merseyside 2 — 
			 Metropolitan 1 — 
			 Norfolk — — 
			 North Yorkshire — — 
			 Northamptonshire — — 
			 Northumbria — — 
			 Nottinghamshire — — 
			 South Yorkshire 1 — 
			 Staffordshire — — 
			 Suffolk — — 
			 Surrey — — 
			 Sussex — — 
			 Thames Valley — — 
			 Warwickshire — — 
			 West Mercia — 1 
			 West Midlands 1 — 
			 West Yorkshire 1 — 
			 Wiltshire — — 
			 England 11 4 
			
			 Dyfed-Powys — — 
			 Gwent 1 — 
			 North Wales — 1 
			 South Wales — — 
			 Wales 1 1 
			
			 England and Wales 12 5 
		
	
	(91) Offence created by Fireworks Regulations 2004 under s11 Fireworks Act 2003.
	(92) January-July provisional data.

Fireworks

Anthony D Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fines have been imposed by the police in relation to offences relating to fireworks in (a) Great Yarmouth constituency, (b) Norfolk, (c) the Eastern Region and (d) England and Wales since the Fireworks Act 2003.

Hazel Blears: Since 11 October 2004 the police have had powers to issue penalty notices for disorder for four specific firework offences. The number of penalty notices issued for firework offences in Norfolk, the Eastern Region and England and Wales is shown in the table. Centrally available data do not identify Great Yarmouth separately.
	
		Number of PNDs issued for fireworks offences, Norfolk, Eastern Region and England and Wales, 2004 and 2005(93)
		
			  2004 
			 Police force area Throwing fireworks Breach of fireworks curfew Possession of a category 4 firework Possession by under 18 of adult firework 
		
		
			 Norfolk 1 — — — 
			 Eastern Region 11 1 1 1 
			 England and Wales 177 12 12 20 
		
	
	
		
			  2005 
			 Police force area Throwing fireworks Breach of fireworks curfew Possession of a category 4 firework Possession by under 18 of adult firework 
		
		
			 Norfolk 1 — — — 
			 Eastern Region 11 3 — — 
			 England and Wales 324 11 8 4 
		
	
	(93) January-September provisional data
	Source:
	RDS—Office for Criminal Justice Reform

Home Detention Curfew Scheme

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been released from prison early since the Home Detention Curfew Scheme was introduced.

Fiona Mactaggart: The requested information for England and Wales, as recorded on the Prison Service IT system, is in the following table. The results for 2005 are up to 22 October.
	
		Prisoners released under Home Detention Curfew by year
		
			 England and Wales Number 
		
		
			 1999 14,846 
			 2000 15,515 
			 2001 13,649 
			 2002 20,456 
			 2003 21,197 
			 2004 19,311 
			 2005(94) 17,787 
		
	
	(94) Figures for 2005 are up to 22 October

Licensing Act 1964

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many violent offences were committed in and around licensed premises in each police authority area in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The available information is for 2002–03, 2003–04 and 2004–05 and is given in the table. Information for earlier years is not currently available.
	These figures relate to violence recorded by the police rather than violence committed. Therefore they should not be taken as a complete illustration of the number of violent offences committed in connection with licensed premises.
	For example, in certain areas where alcohol-related violence is particularly prevalent, local police are more likely to police city centres on Friday and Saturday nights thus recording more incidents of violent offences committed in connection with licensed premises. If football-related violence is a problem, the choice to send police officers to the match will undoubtedly lead to more violent crime being recorded than if they did not attend. There are other examples, such as the pro-active policing of antisocial behaviour which can increase recorded crime.
	
		The number of violent offences committed in connection with licensed premises by force for 2002–03, 2003–04 and 2004–05
		
			  2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 1,922 2,574 4,111 
			 Bedfordshire 693 762 849 
			 Cambridgeshire 584 750 753 
			 Cheshire 504 806 890 
			 Cleveland 588 1,615 1,699 
			 Cumbria 488 600 995 
			 Derbyshire (95)— (95)— (95)— 
			 Devon and Cornwall 2,960 3,580 3,380 
			 Dorset 813 752 808 
			 Durham (95)— (95)— (95)— 
			 Dyfed-Powys 584 816 869 
			 Essex (95)— 1,756 1,717 
			 Gloucestershire 707 864 1,014 
			 Greater Manchester (95)— 1,620 1,309 
			 Gwent 670 791 (95)— 
			 Hampshire 1,717 2,417 2,572 
			 Hertfordshire 804 1,005 1,135 
			 Humberside 821 1,007 944 
			 Kent 551 813 879 
			 Lancashire 2,653 3,910 4,365 
			 Leicestershire 1,155 1,323 1,505 
			 Lincolnshire (95)— 607 119 
			 London, City of 159 151 151 
			 Merseyside (95)— (95)— 2,118 
			 Metropolitan Police (95)— (95)— (95)— 
			 Norfolk 521 540 (95)— 
			 Northamptonshire 1,083 1,043 1,102 
			 Northumbria 1,850 1,767 2,065 
			 North Wales 963 967 (95)— 
			 North Yorkshire (95)— 1,124 1,096 
			 Nottinghamshire (95)— (95)— (95)— 
			 South Wales 3,140 2,895 1,769 
			 South Yorkshire 1,624 1,581 2,175 
			 Staffordshire 1,927 2,424 2,579 
			 Suffolk 808 993 1,007 
			 Surrey 562 794 912 
			 Sussex (95)— (95)— (95)— 
			 Thames Valley 1,960 2,146 2,270 
			 Warwickshire 839 932 961 
			 West Mercia (95)— 882 788 
			 West Midlands 3,731 4,140 3,974 
			 West Yorkshire 3,327 2,017 3,253 
			 Wiltshire (95)— 373 257 
		
	
	(95) Not available.

Multi-agency Public Protection Arrangements

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases were covered by multi-agency public protection arrangements on 31 March of each year between 2001 and 2005.

Fiona Mactaggart: The number of offenders managed under multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA) per year (1 April to 31 March) is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2001–02 (96)47,209 
			 2002–03 (96)52,809 
			 2003–04 39,492 
			 2004–05 44,592 
		
	
	(96) The figures for the first two years of counting include offenders both in custody and in the community. The figures for the later years include only offenders in the community. This counting rule was changed to reflect the fact that the MAPPA were established specifically to help improve the protection of the public from sexual and violent offenders in the community.

Offences Against the Person Act

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) males and (b) females were (i) charged and (ii) convicted in England and Wales of offences under sections (A) 4, (B) 5, (C) 9, (D) 17, (E) 22, (F) 24, (G) 29, (H) 30, (I) 32, (J) 33, (K) 34, (L) 35, (M) 36, (N) 57 and (O) 60 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: Statistics on the number of males and females charged with an offence are not centrally collected.
	Information taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings database on the number of males and females found guilty of the sections under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 which are requested at all courts England and Wales, 1994—2003 is contained in the table.
	Court statistics for 2004 will be available later this month.
	
		Number of males and females found guilty at all courts for certain sections under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, England and Wales, 1994—2003(97)
		
			   1994 1995 1996 1997 
			 Offence description Principal statutes Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female 
		
		
			 Conspiracy or soliciting, etc., to commit murder Criminal Law Act 1977 S.1; Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.4 15 3 9 3 6 1 14 1 
			 Manslaughter Common Law; Offences against the Person Act 1861 SS.5, 9 and 10 171 26 178 17 200 32 214 30 
			 Murder of persons aged one year or over Common Law; Offences against the Person Act 1861 SS.1, 9 and 10 181 9 193 15 243 6 245 19 
			 Murder of infants under one year of age Common Law; Offences against the Person Act 1861 SS.1, 9 and 10 2 - 4 2 8 - 11 - 
			 Impeding the saving of life from shipwreck Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.17 - - - - - - - - 
			 Using Chloroform, etc., to commit or assist uncommitting an indictable offence Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.221 1 - - - 1 - - - 
			 Administering poison with intent to injure or annoy Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.24 15 1 35 3 16 2 9 4 
			 Causing, explosions or casting corrosive fluids with intent to do grievous bodily harm Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.29 8 - 9 - 1 - 6 - 
			 Placing, etc., explosives in or near ships or buildings with intent to do bodily harm, etc. Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.30 - - - - 1 - - - 
			 Endangering railway passengers by placing, etc., anything on railway, taking up rails, changing points and signals etc. Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.32 2 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 
			 Endangering railway passengers by throwing anything at railway carriages, etc. Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.33 - - 2 - - - - - 
			 Endangering railway passengers by unlawful acts, or by omission or neglect Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.34 12 3 29 - 19 1 21 1 
			 Causing bodily harm by furious driving Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.35 18 - 15 1 21 3 10 - 
			 Obstructing, assaulting or arresting upon civil process clergymen performing service Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.36 - 2 - - 1 - - 1 
			 Concealment of birth Offences against the Person Act 1861 S60 - - - - - - - 1 
			 Bigamy Offences against the Person Act 1861 S57 15 6 10 5 13 3 10 6 
		
	
	
		
			   1998 1999 2000 
			 Offence description Principal statutes Male Female Male Female Male Female 
		
		
			 Conspiracy or soliciting, etc., to commit murder Criminal Law Act 1977 S.1; Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.4 11 3 10 3 13 5 
			 Manslaughter Common Law; Offences against the Person Act 1861 SS.5, 9 and 10 231 35 207 27 210 28 
			 Murder of persons aged one year or over Common Law; Offences against the Person Act 1861 SS.1, 9 and 10 241 8 232 15 243 13 
			 Murder of infants under one year of age Common Law; Offences against the Person Act 1861 SS.1, 9 and 10 6 1 4 1 5 - 
			 Impeding the saving of life from shipwreck Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.17 - - - - - - 
			 Using Chloroform, etc., to commit or assist uncommitting an indictable offence Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.221 - 1 2 - 3 1 
			 Administering poison with intent to injure or annoy Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.24 21 6 24 3 13 3 
			 Causing, explosions or casting corrosive fluids with intent to do grievous bodily harm Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.29 3 - - - . - 
			 Placing, etc., explosives in or near ships or buildings with intent to do bodily harm, etc. Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.30 - - - - - - 
			 Endangering railway passengers by placing, etc., anything on railway, taking up rails, changing points and signals etc. Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.32 - - - - - - 
			 Endangering railway passengers by throwing anything at railway carriages, etc. Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.33 - - - - - - 
			 Endangering railway passengers by unlawful acts, or by omission or neglect Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.34 23 - 21 1 20 3 
			 Causing bodily harm by furious driving Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.35 8 1 11 - 12 - 
			 Obstructing, assaulting or arresting upon civil process clergymen performing service Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.36 - - - - - - 
			 Concealment of birth Offences against the Person Act 1861 S60 - 1 1 1 - 1 
			 Bigamy Offences against the Person Act 1861 S57 11 7 18 10 10 2 
		
	
	
		
			   2001 2002 2003 
			 Offence description Principal statutes Male Female Male Female Male Female 
		
		
			 Conspiracy or soliciting, etc., to commit murder Criminal Law Act 1977 S.1; Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.4 6 1 10 3 28 1 
			 Manslaughter Common Law; Offences against the Person Act 1861 SS.5, 9 and 10 230 32 263 36 213 31 
			 Murder of persons aged one year or over Common Law; Offences against the Person Act 1861 SS.1, 9 and 10 268 17 309 11 255 18 
			 Murder of infants under one year of age Common Law; Offences against the Person Act 1861 SS.1, 9 and 10 - - 2 2 3 1 
			 Impeding the saving of life from shipwreck Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.17 - - - - - - 
			 Using Chloroform, etc., to commit or assist uncommitting an indictable offence Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.221 1 - 2 - 1 1 
			 Administering poison with intent to injure or annoy Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.24 6 5 13 2 14 7 
			 Causing, explosions or casting corrosive fluids with intent to do grievous bodily harm Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.29 4 - - - 5 - 
			 Placing, etc., explosives in or near ships or buildings with intent to do bodily harm, etc. Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.30 8 - - - - - 
			 Endangering railway passengers by placing, etc., anything on railway, taking up rails, changing points and signals etc. Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.32 2 - 1 - 8 - 
			 Endangering railway passengers by throwing anything at railway carriages, etc. Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.33 - - 2 - 1 - 
			 Endangering railway passengers by unlawful acts, or by omission or neglect Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.34 17 1 32 - 23 - 
			 Causing bodily harm by furious driving Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.35 7 - 13 - 10 1 
			 Obstructing, assaulting or arresting upon civil process clergymen performing service Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.36 1 - 1 - - - 
			 Concealment of birth Offences against the Person Act 1861 S60 - - - - 1 3 
			 Bigamy Offences against the Person Act 1861 S57 13 4 15 1 15 5 
		
	
	(97) These data are provided on the principal offence basis.

Offensive Weapons

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many stop and searches for weapons were performed by the police in (a) England and Wales and (b) the Teignbridge constituency since the coming into force of the Knives Act 1997.

Hazel Blears: Information from 1998–99 to 2003–04 (latest available) for England and Wales on stops and searches under section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 as amended by section 8 of the Knives Act 1997 is given in the table. The information is available centrally at police force area level only. Data for 2004–05 will be published in December 2005.
	
		Searches of persons or vehicles in anticipation of violence under section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 as amended by section 8 of the Knives Act 1997, section 25 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, schedule 7 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 and SI 2004/1573—England and Wales
		
			  Searches 
		
		
			 1998–99(98) 5,500 
			 1999–2000 6,840 
			 2000–01 11,300 
			 2001–02 18,900 
			 2002–03 44,400 
			 2003–04 40,400 
		
	
	(98) S8 of the Knives Act 1997 came into force on 1 March 1999.

Perjury

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many successful prosecutions for perjury there have been in each of the last 10 years.

Fiona Mactaggart: Data from the Home Office Court Proceedings database, showing the number of convictions for perjury at all courts in England and Wales for the last 10 years, is provided in the table.
	Data for 2004 will be available in late November.
	
		Offenders found guilty at all courts for perjury England and Wales, 1993 to 2003(99)
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1993 150 
			 1994 144 
			 1995 193 
			 1996 152 
			 1997 173 
			 1998 176 
			 1999 114 
			 2000(100) 135 
			 2001 92 
			 2002 81 
			 2003 108 
		
	
	(99) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(100) Staffordshire police force were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at a detailed level and have been excluded from the table.

Prisons

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in Essex who were tagged on early release from prison breached the rules governing their early release in each of the last five years.

Fiona Mactaggart: The number of prisoners who were released on the Home Detention Curfew scheme (HDC) from Her Majesty's Prison Bullwood Hall and Her Majesty's Prison Chelmsford who breached the rules governing their early release for each of the last five years is provided in the following table. The area in which electronically tagged prisoners reside upon release is not recorded centrally.
	
		Prisoners released on the HOC scheme from HMP Bullwood Hall and Chelmsford and those who were recalled, by year of release
		
			  Discharged Recalled(101) 
		
		
			 2000 147 12 
			 2001 139 8 
			 2002 303 25 
			 2003 265 27 
			 2004 125 17 
		
	
	(101) Some recalls from HOC are due to the curfewee no longer being able to be monitored through no fault of their own. For example where he or she loses accommodation through no fault of their own.

Prisons

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what projections he has made of the prison population in the next five years; and what plans he has to meet those projections.

Fiona Mactaggart: The latest prison population projections are published in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin 10/05 "Updated And Revised Prison Population Projections, 2005–2011, England and Wales". Figures for 10 scenarios can be found in this document. The scenarios range from 'High' to 'Low'. Projected total prison population figures (annual averages) for High and Low scenarios for the relevant financial years are presented in the following table.
	The National Offender Management Service keeps under review the demand on prison places and the capacity of prisons to accommodate those prisoners sent to them by the courts. We are increasing the operational capacity of the prison estate by bringing accommodation back into use and through additional places built at existing prisons.
	
		Projected prison population (end of June figures)
		
			  High Low 
		
		
			 2005 76,600 76,110 
			 2006 79,490 76,060 
			 2007 84,260 76,670 
			 2008 87,870 77,310 
			 2009 89,400 77,080 
			 2010 91,500 77,380 
		
	
	Source:
	RDS NOMS

Prisons

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS among Prison Service staff; what guidance he has issued to Prison Service staff to ensure the care received by those with HIV/AIDS is fair and equitable; and what plans he has to issue further guidance on this issue.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Prison Service has issued a number of documents giving comprehensive guidance to support staff with HIV/AIDS. These include Prison Service Order (PSO) "Occupational Health", and is available on the Prison Service website: www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk/resourcecentre/psispsos.
	In addition, PSO 3845, "Blood Borne and Related Communicable Diseases" and the Health and Safety Guidance Note 02/2005 "Risk Assessment and Immunisation for Communicable Diseases" provide further advice and guidance. Copies of these documents are in the Library. All these documents are available to staff via the Prison Service intranet and as hard copies where required. Staff have access to occupational health advisers and additional support is available through staff care and welfare services.
	The Prison Service is committed to ensuring that all those in custody receive fair and equitable treatment. Staff guidance is available in the "Health Services for Prisoners Standard" to ensure that those with HIV/AIDS receive appropriate care and was updated in May 2004. There are no immediate plans to issue further guidance on this issue but regular reviews are undertaken to ensure best practice is followed.

Recorded Crime Rate

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the recorded rate of crime was in Suffolk for each year since 1997 for (a) burglary of dwellings, (b) violence against the person, (c) vehicle crime, (d) robbery, (e) sexual offences, (f) total violent crime, (g) theft and handling of stolen goods and (h) criminal damage.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is given in the table.
	
		Table 1: Offences recorded by the police in Suffolk—1997 to 2001–02 Number of offences
		
			 Offence 1997 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 Violence against the person 2,448 3,820 5,303 6,395 7,354 
			   
			 Sexual offences 400 405 389 421 486 
			   
			 Robbery 141 140 223 177 289 
			   
			 Violent crime 2,989 4,365 5,915 6,993 8,129 
			   
			 Burglary in a dwelling 2,422 2,464 2,332 2,198 2,447 
			   
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 16,952 17,097 17,422 17,196 19,419 
			 Of which:  
			 Vehicle crime 6,687 6,446 6,501 6,291 6,915 
			   
			 Criminal damage 7,835 7,898 9,547 10,150 12,095 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The coverage was extended and counting rules revised from 1998–99. Figures from that date are not directly comparable with those for 1997.
	2. The data in this table is prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years.
	
		Table 2: Offences recorded by the police in Suffolk 2002–03 to 2004–05 Number of offences
		
			 Offence 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Violence against the person 7,949 9,529 10,347 
			 
			 Sexual offences 588 641 620 
			 
			 Robbery 249 290 260 
			 
			 Violent crime 8,786 10,460 11,227 
			 
			 Burglary in a dwelling 2,258 2,365 1,763 
			 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 18,806 18,205 17,609 
			 Of which:
			 Vehicle crime 6,282 5,782 5,463 
			 
			 Criminal damage 11,497 12,817 12,781 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The data in this table takes account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.
	2. The Sexual Offences Act 2003, introduced in May 2004, altered the definition and coverage of sexual offences.

Secure Training Centres

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times noise distraction has been used in each of the four secure training centres in each of the last three years.

Fiona Mactaggart: Information is not held centrally for the entire period. The following table gives details for the period October 2004 to September 2005:
	
		
			  Use of noise distraction technique 
		
		
			 Medway 178 
			 Rainsbrook 63 
			 Oakhill(102) 134 
			 Hassockfield 62 
		
	
	(102) Figures for Oakhill do not include the period 1–18 October 2004.

Similar Fact Rules

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes have been made to the similar fact rules since 1990; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: The common law "similar fact" rule allowed the prosecution to rely on a defendant's previous misconduct in certain circumstances. However the Bad Character provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, which were implemented in December 2004, abolished this and other common law rules governing the admissibility of such evidence in criminal proceedings. In their place the Act sets out a number of "gateways" through which evidence of a defendant's bad character may be admissible, where relevant and probative. One of these is where such evidence is
	"relevant to an important matter in issue between the defendant and the prosecution."
	The Act makes clear that such
	"matters in issue between the defendant and the prosecution"
	include the question whether the defendant has a propensity to commit offences of the kind with which he is charged.

Together Campaign

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the 50 Action Areas in which the Together campaign has been pursued.

Hazel Blears: There are currently 10 Trailblazer Areas and 51 Action Areas across the country, designated as "TOGETHER Action Areas", which will get extra help to tackle antisocial behaviour. They are as follows:
	51 Action Areas
	East of England:
	Tendring
	Great Yarmouth
	Harlow
	Ipswich
	Norwich
	Peterborough
	Southend on Sea
	Watford
	South East:
	Canterbury
	Dover
	Hastings
	Oxford
	Portsmouth
	Reading
	Slough
	Southampton
	South West:
	Bournemouth
	Exeter
	Gloucester
	Plymouth
	Swindon
	East Midlands:
	Derby
	Leicester
	Northampton
	Nottingham
	West Midlands:
	Coventry
	Hodge Hill
	Sandwell
	Wolverhampton
	North West:
	Wirral
	Blackburn
	Bolton
	Middlesbrough
	Newcastle upon Tyne
	South Tyneside
	Yorkshire and Humberside:
	Doncaster
	Hull
	Kirklees
	Wakefield
	York
	Wales:
	Cardiff
	Newport
	Swansea
	London:
	Hackney
	Southwark
	10 Trailblazer Areas
	Birmingham
	Brighton
	Bristol
	Camden
	Manchester
	Leeds
	Liverpool
	Sheffield
	Sunderland
	Westminster.

Town Police Clauses Act

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) males and (b) females have been (i) charged and (ii) convicted in England and Wales of offences under section 36 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 in each year since 1984; and if he will make a statement on the operation of that section of the Act.

Paul Goggins: Statistics on the number of males and females charged with an offence are not centrally collected.
	Information taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings database on the number of males and females found guilty of sections 21, 28, 29, 35 and 36 under the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 at all courts England and Wales, 1984—2003 is contained in the table. It is not possible to separately identify the figures for section 36.
	Court statistics for 2004 will be available in late November.
	
		Number of males and females found guilty at all courts under certain offences under the Town Police Clauses Act 1847, England and Wales, 1984–2003(103)Offence description: Offences under the said sections excluding those involving disorderly behaviour, dogs, highways and drunkenness etc.Statute : Town Police Clauses Act 1847 SS 21, 28, 29, 35 and 36
		
			  Male Female 
		
		
			 1984 139 17 
			 1985 189 11 
			 1986 196 5 
			 1987 150 6 
			 1988 102 6 
			 1989 106 6 
			 1990 104 10 
			 1991 99 14 
			 1992 104 10 
			 1993 66 8 
			 1994 85 9 
			 1995 65 10 
			 1996 61 4 
			 1997 60 6 
			 1998 47 8 
			 1999 56 4 
			 2000 38 5 
			 2001 41 4 
			 2002 41 3 
			 2003 37 7 
		
	
	(103) These data are provided on the principal offence basis.

Unsolved Murders

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many murders committed in each year since 1980 in (a) Havering, (b) Greater London and (c) England and Wales remain unsolved.

Hazel Blears: The available information is given in the following table for the Metropolitan Police Service and England and Wales. The data are provided from the Homicide database which has data back to 1980 and has the outcome for each homicide. However, it does not hold data at a lower level than police force area. Data are also held on the recorded crime database but offences and outcomes are not linked.
	
		Homicides currently recorded by the police(104)
		
			  Metropolitan Police Service England and Wales 
			  Total currently recorded Unsolved Total currently recorded Unsolved 
		
		
			 1980 172 12 536 28 
			 1981 113 20 501 33 
			 1982 172 40 555 56 
			 1983 125 22 481 39 
			 1984 132 28 536 42 
			 1985 158 25 534 41 
			 1986 167 28 562 43 
			 1987 163 29 597 50 
			 1988 135 30 547 49 
			 1989 134 24 521 63 
			 1990 153 48 555 77 
			 1991 158 43 623 74 
			 1992 140 33 581 63 
			 1993 136 31 565 60 
			 1994 148 39 632 85 
			 1995 147 34 663 86 
			 1996 125 23 585 54 
			 1997 154 36 609 79 
			 1997–98 158 34 608 76 
			 1998–99 144 27 650 71 
			 1999–2000 172 43 679 93 
			 2000–01 177 44 772 96 
			 2001–02 182 56 808 133 
			 2002–03 179 44 964 135 
			 2003–04 205 56 833 174 
		
	
	(104) As at 22 October 2004; figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available.
	
		Crime and Disorder—Recorded crime for six key offences 2002–03, 2003–04 and 2004–05
		
			   Violence against the person, offences recorded 
			 Force CDRP name 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05(105) 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset Bath and North East Somerset 1,544 2,000 2,685 
			 Avon and Somerset City of Bristol UA 8,868 11,420 13,086 
			 Avon and Somerset Mendip 1,114 1,546 1,850 
			 Avon and Somerset North Somerset 2,362 2,937 3,758 
			 Avon and Somerset Sedgemoor 1,242 1,702 1,746 
			 Avon and Somerset South Gloucester 1,902 2,298 3,008 
			 Avon and Somerset South Somerset 1,644 2,260 2,870 
			 Avon and Somerset Taunton Deane 1,583 1,890 2,000 
			 Avon and Somerset West Somerset 480 477 460 
			 Bedfordshire Bedford 2,311 2,358 2,912 
			 Bedfordshire Luton 3,371 3,824 4,416 
			 Bedfordshire Mid Bedfordshire 854 955 1,043 
			 Bedfordshire South Bedfordshire 1,562 1,670 1,766 
			 Cambridgeshire Cambridge 2,579 2,726 2,758 
			 Cambridgeshire East Cambridgeshire 822 833 745 
			 Cambridgeshire Fenland 1,518 1,835 1,589 
			 Cambridgeshire Huntingdonshire 2,111 2,157 2,070 
			 Cambridgeshire Peterborough UA 4,524 5,133 5,165 
			 Cambridgeshire South Cambridgeshire 1,020 979 1,031 
			 Cheshire Chester 1,653 1,904 2,031 
			 Cheshire Congleton 611 838 856 
			 Cheshire Crewe 1,293 1,849 1,802 
			 Cheshire Ellesmere Port and Neston 839 1,093 1,286 
			 Cheshire Halton 1,696 2,425 2,771 
			 Cheshire Macclesfield 1,377 1,638 1,806 
			 Cheshire Vale Royal 1,390 1,836 1,852 
			 Cheshire Warrington 1,843 2,491 3,204

Violent Crime/Sexual Assaults

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) gun crimes and (b) sexual assaults were recorded in each London borough in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The available information relates to (a) offences involving firearms, excluding air weapons, recorded by the Metropolitan Police Service since 1997–98 and (b) indecent/sexual assaults recorded by each of the Metropolitan Police's Basic Command Units since 2000–01.
	The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced on 1 April 2002 and statistics before and after that date are not directly comparable.
	The Sexual Offences Act 2003, introduced in May 2004, re-defined many sexual offences, including indecent assault. As such, data for 2004–05 and earlier years are not directly comparable.
	
		Table 3: Indecent/Sexual assaults recorded in the Metropolitan police force area by Basic Command Unit, 2000–01 and 2001–02
		
			 Basic Command Unit 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 135 136 
			 Barnet 142 161 
			 Bexley 135 143 
			 Brent 199 197 
			 Bromley 127 153 
			 Camden 195 251 
			 City of Westminster 301 317 
			 Croydon 236 238 
			 Ealing 223 219 
			 Enfield 179 189 
			 Greenwich 224 234 
			 Hackney 193 199 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 142 139 
			 Haringey 216 186 
			 Harrow 86 68 
			 Havering 119 109 
			 Heathrow 21 28 
			 Hillingdon 157 186 
			 Hounslow 173 177 
			 Islington 167 207 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 96 96 
			 Kingston upon Thames 87 98 
			 Lambeth 294 266 
			 Lewisham 239 248 
			 Merton 90 122 
			 Newham 187 217 
			 Redbridge 142 164 
			 Richmond upon Thames 56 67 
			 Southwark 287 274 
			 Sutton 66 81 
			 Tower Hamlets 183 214 
			 Waltham Forest 157 185 
			 Wandsworth 207 234 
			 Total 5,461 5,803 
		
	
	
		Table 4: Indecent/Sexual assaults recorded in the Metropolitan police force area by Basic Command Unit, 2002–03 to 2004–05
		
			 Basic Command Unit 2002–03(105) 2003–04 2004–05(106) 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 165 141 114 
			 Barnet 214 156 156 
			 Bexley 142 108 110 
			 Brent 172 201 138 
			 Bromley 157 153 140 
			 Camden 175 196 169 
			 City of Westminster 333 323 321 
			 Croydon 278 271 219 
			 Ealing 222 233 200 
			 Enfield 173 198 128 
			 Greenwich 215 221 159 
			 Hackney 202 203 203 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 170 159 111 
			 Haringey 219 246 183 
			 Harrow 84 78 76 
			 Havering 110 103 86 
			 Heathrow 20 18 26 
			 Hillingdon 165 135 143 
			 Hounslow 210 191 149 
			 Islington 199 205 143 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 102 119 102 
			 Kingston upon Thames 84 107 80 
			 Lambeth 304 248 244 
			 Lewisham 277 215 220 
			 Merton 109 103 103 
			 Newham 218 193 182 
			 Redbridge 145 158 146 
			 Richmond upon Thames 69 68 66 
			 Southwark 277 291 244 
			 Sutton 94 93 93 
			 Tower Hamlets 253 239 185 
			 Waltham Forest 178 162 111 
			 Wandsworth 234 222 202 
			 Total 5,969 5,807 4,952 
		
	
	(105) The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced on 1 April 2002. Figures before and after that date are not directly comparable.
	(106) The Sexual Offences Act 2003, introduced in May 2004, altered the definition and coverage of sexual offences. Offences included in Tables 3 and 4: (a) up to and including April 2004—indecent assault on a male, indecent assault on a female; (b) from May 2004—sexual assault on a male aged 13 and over, sexual assault on a male child under 13, sexual assault on a female aged 13 and over, sexual assault on a female child under 13.

Witnesses

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of the intermediary scheme provided for in the special measures for vulnerable witnesses under the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999.

Fiona Mactaggart: Examination of a witness through an intermediary under section 29 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 is currently available in six pathfinder areas: Merseyside; West Midlands; Thames Valley; South Wales; Norfolk; and Devon and Cornwall. Evaluation of the pathfinders will be completed by the end of March 2006 after which plans will be made for further roll out of the scheme in England and Wales.
	The latest available information about the number of times that intermediaries have been used is given in the following table.
	We have issued recently information packs entitled 'What's my story?' and 'Intermediaries: Giving a voice to vulnerable witnesses' copies of which have been placed in the Library. These materials are being used to promote awareness and understanding of the intermediary scheme in the pathfinder areas.
	
		
			Area   Intermediary scheme start date Number of witnesses assisted by an intermediary as at 15 November 2005(107) 
		
		
			 Merseyside 23 February 2004 11 
			 West Midlands 13 September 2004 (Wolverhampton area) 20 
			  1 November 2004  
			 (all courts in West Midlands)  
			 Thames Valley 2 October 2004 51 
			 South Wales(108) 1 February 2005 2 
			 Norfolk 1 February 2005 5 
			 Devon and Cornwall(109) 20 June 2005 9 
			 Total  98 
		
	
	(107) Data refer to the number of witnesses for whom the Office for Criminal Justice Reform has provided a registered intermediary where the intermediary has, or is expected to, carried out a communication needs analysis relating to the witness or has assisted them to understand questions or to make their answers understood during a criminal investigation or trial.
	Data refer only to pathfinder areas where notification of availability of the intermediary special measure has been made in accordance with section 18(2) of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999.
	(108) In South Wales trials are restricted to Cardiff Crown court, Cardiff magistrates courts, the Vale of Glamorgan magistrates courts, Newcastle and Ogmore magistrates courts, Miskin magistrates courts.
	(109) In Devon and Cornwall trials are restricted to Plymouth Crown court and Plymouth magistrates court.